“During a run many years back…a club thing…I got shot in the side of the head.”
He taps the faint scar near his temple.
“After stumbling back, I attacked the guy and killed him. Apparently, after I finished the job, Iliterally skippedback to my bike while he bled out on the ground.”
I stare at him.
“That,” I say slowly, “is the most Skip reason I’ve ever heard.”
He winks.
“My favorite color is red, food is steak, horror movies, and my new favorite holiday is a future Thanksgiving where we’re surrounded by a gigantic family.”
“You can’t steal my answer,” I laugh.
“It’s the truth, though,” he shrugs. “I can’t wait to spend every holiday with you. Fair warning…our family is insane. But if you want a quiet one, we’ll have that too.”
“No,” I answer instantly. “I’ve only ever had quiet Thanksgivings. I dream of the kind where I have to sneak away to another room for a breather.”
“Well, a Shadows get-together will definitely give you that,” he chuckles. “Just wait until—”
“Oh, Skippy, Iknewit was you,” a woman purrs as she slides into the booth beside Skip, hand brushing over his cut. “I’ve missed you, baby. After you’re done hanging out with your friend, wanna come back to my place?”
Skip’s expression turns to stone.
“What is my number one fucking rule, woman?”
“Oh… sorry, Skippy. I forgot.”
She removes her hand from his cut but doesn’t move her perfect little body an inch. Then her hand drifts to his chest.
My stomach falls.
“Newnumber one fucking rule,” Skip says, voice lethal. “Don’t touch me. At all. And never…fuckingever…disrespect my man again by hanging all over me.”
“Your man?” she repeats, dumbstruck. “Where is he? I don’t mind a threesome.”
She looks right at me…well…sort of. She’s glancing over my shoulder, trying to find that person Skip’s talking about.
Ouch.
“Excuse me,” I choke out, trying to slide from the booth. Skip’s boot slams onto the seat, blocking my exit.
“You are exactly where you’re wanted, baby,” he growls. Then turns back to the bombshell of a woman. “You have three seconds to move the fuck away from me and apologize to my man. Right. Fucking. Now. Syndy.”
“Oh!” she squeaks, scrambling away before looking at me in disbelief. “Sorry! I didn’t realize he was the man you were talking about.”
Great. Perfect. Another beautiful person who once had Skip’s attention, standing right here to remind me what I’m not.
“Well, hello, sexy,” another voice says.
I look up to see the Twinkie server delivering our food. Who is very obviously eyeing Skip like a buffet he’s already sampled.
“Forfuck’ssake,” Skip mutters. “I’m being punished. Put the food down and go.”
The server sets the plates on the table, ass swaying on purpose. Syndy is still hovering, smirking.
I don’t fight as Skip grabs my hand and yanks me to my feet.
