“Wow, this looks amazing, Jack.”
He blushes, at least what I can see above his perfectly trimmed beard. “I’m glad you approve, Quinn.”
Patsy nudges my arm, but I ignore her. Instead I quickly fill my plate and return to my chair. There’s no way Jack likes me. Not like that, anyway. And as the evening progresses, my theory is proven when I watch as his attention moves from me to Lindsay—who appears to be just as taken by him.
“See?” I slap Patsy’s hand. “Lindsay and Jack.”
Patsy’s head turns slowly until she sees them together sitting on a bench at the back of the yard. “Well, I’ll be.”
“Yeah, see? Told you.”
“Well, I guess it’s okay to leave some of the guys for the rest of us.” Patsy giggles.
“Huh?”
“Oh, come on.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ve got men panting for you.”
Heat rushes up to my cheeks. “No I don’t.” That’s not true. Nobody likes me. Not like that.
“You didn’t notice how that cop was totally smitten with you?”
“Officer Golden?”
“Yes. The blond god.”
“No, he was just being nice.”
“To you. I think he wanted to kill Kara after he heard what she did to you.”
“No, he was just doing his job.”
Ignoring me, she adds, “And what about Cooke?”
“Cooke?” I practically screech. “We’re just friends.”
“Sorry, but I have guy friends, and none of them FaceChat with me at all hours of the day and night.”
“He’s in England. And… and we’re just friends. Have you seen him?”
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“Oh, come on. He could have anyone. I’m just….” I look down at myself and notice two things. One, I’ve got a blob of ketchup on my tee that I hadn’t seen before, and two, my stomach. “No. He’s just bored.”
“You don’t see it, do you?”
“See what?” I’m getting a little defensive. And embarrassed by all this talk.
“How beautiful you are.”
I’m blushing so much my eyes hurt. Trust me, it happens. “No. I’m too—”
Patsy moves her chair closer. “You’re one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen, Quinn.”
“No.”
“Yes, Quinn. Look in the mirror sometime.” She pauses. “And not just at your face. Of course your shiny dark hair set against bright, blue eyes is stunning, and you’ve got a perfect nose and adorable freckles. But your body is curvy and sexy. You just choose to wear those huge T-shirts all the time. The morning Kara went to crazy-town—”
I laugh at the expression. It’s true, though. Kara definitely went to crazy-town.
