Excellent job exploring the full range of topics I do not want to discuss,Darius.
“What guy?” Ihedged.
Dare sighed. “We’re gonna do this? Really? Henry Lattimer’s grandson Everett.Thatguy. The guy I’m pretty sure is the reason Reggie Carbury is never gonna hear from you again. The guy Ash Martin said you were laughing and flirting with atFanaillea weekago.”
“Nearly two,” Icorrected.
Dare smiled triumphantly and Iwinced.
“Uh huh.” He lifted one eyebrow. “Spill.”
I rolled my eyes and ignoredhim.
Dare rested his chin on his hand and stared atme.
I stared at the smoothtabletop.
Dare kicked my anklehard, forcing me to look at himagain.
“Fine!” I said, my resistance dissolving like chalk in the rain. I massaged my sore ankle and glared at him. “Fine. You win. Ev’s a decent guy. He’s hot as fuck. Seems nice. I was into him. He’s not into me, though, which is sadlynota crime in New YorkState.”
Dare frowned. “Yousure?”
“I know, right?” I widened my eyes. “Seems like it should be, but I looked it up just incase.”
Dare groaned. “Not that, asshole. Are you sure he’s not intoyou?”
“Given the number of times I’ve called, visited, and accosted him over the past two weeks? Yeah, it’s a safe bet.” I grabbed a napkin from the silver dispenser on the edge of the table and unfolded it in front of me. “Short of arresting him and locking him up, I’ve exhausted all options to get him to talk tome.”
“Interesting,” Daresaid.
“What?”
“I dunno.” Dare shrugged. “Cal said the guy was putting out a stronginterestedvibe. Maybe he’s fightingit.”
“Oh, and now Caelan James is an expert on these things?” I rubbed a hand over my forehead. “And people seriously wonder why I take steps to keep my personal life personal?Cal says he’s into me, Ash says I’m into Ev.Jesus. It’s like being in high school, but with legal booze and no summersoff.”
Dare looked down at the table and pursed his lips like he was trying not tosmile.
“So, okay, given that I’m already getting chewed up by the O’Leary gossip mill, tell me. What’s his deal?” I tore my napkin into rectangles and then the rectangles intosquares.
“Who,Ev?”
My turn to raise my eyebrow. Darechuckled.
“I haven’t the first clue. If he has a deal, it’s not something the fine folks of O’Leary know about. Yet.” Dare narrowed his eyes at me speculatively. “You could always askhim.”
“Uh, you recall the part from a minute ago where I’ve been trying to talk to him and he’s done everything but get a restraining order to avoidme?”
My asshole friend snickered. “That bad,huh?”
I wadded up my napkin and threw it at him so it landed on the table like so much confetti. “Yeah. Thatbad.”
“Never thought I’d see the day.” Dare gave me a soft smile like I’d done something cute. “Si Sloane, falling forsomeone.”
I scowled. “Please. It’s not that. Dude, I barely know the guy. It’s just annoying when someone seems like they might be into you one minute, and the next they’re just…gone.”
“Ahhh, so it’s the mystery you like,” Dare said, nodding. “This makes more sense. It’s rare that you have to work forit.”
