Odie:LOL yessss
Odie:srry used to shorthand texts with Iz
Odie:forgot u were an old man
Me:I know shorthand text. I just don’t understand fragmented sentences.
Me:And how many times do I have to tell you I’m not old? Do you need more convincing?
Odie:that a promise??
Me:It can be.
Odie:k you’re done i’m trying to cook && don’t need to be horny
Me:No, no. You’re going to tell me more about how horny you are.
Odie:just come
Me:Oh, I plan to.
I chuckle to myself as I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“Hey, man. I’m taking off.” I pull the rag from my shoulder and toss it onto the counter. “You need anything else before I go?”
“Just the name of the store where you got your balls of steel.”
My jaw slackens as I stare at Ezra. “I’m sorry. My what?”
“Balls of steel. You must have them if you’re sneaking around with your sister’s best friend still.”
“I’m not ...” I can’t even get the full lie out.
We both know I am, so there’s no point.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Why does that require balls of steel?”
“Because I’m pretty sure your sister is going to rip them off when you inevitably break Odette’s heart.”
I glance around the bar, but it’s pointless. We’re about an hour away from closing, so the only other people in here are the other bartender, who is downstairs working on closing tasks; Dale from the hardware store, who is on his phone; and a couple sitting in the corner, busy picking up their kid’s Cheerios off the floor. Nobody is paying us any attention.
“I’m not going to break anyone’s heart.”
“Right.” He snorts. “The guy who doesn’t believe in marriage and the girl who plans them aren’t headed for a brutal demise.”
“It’s not like that. We’re kee—”
“I swear to fuck, if you finish that sentence withkeeping things casual, I will jump over this counter and beat the shit out of you. Fucked-up hip and all.”
I flatten my lips. “Why? What’s so wrong with that?”
“For starters, it’s a line. Total fucking bullshit. There’s no such thing as ‘keeping things casual,’ and the people who say that are usually the most delusional of the bunch. Someonealwaysgets hurt in those situations, and I have a feeling it’ll be Odette.”
I gnash my teeth together. “I’m not going to hurt her.”
“Do you believe in marriage?”
“No.”
