“One or two is okay, but even that’s rare. But getdrunk? No. I’ve done it… twice, and it was for special occasions,” I informed him.
His finger drew a circle around the rim of his glass as he asked, “What were they?”
Was Rip trying to get to know me? I wanted to be excited about it, but… well… I wasn’t sure why he was doing it. But it was fine, I wouldn’t overthink it. “My twenty-first birthday and my best friend’s grandpa’s seventieth birthday.”
Rip looked at me. “Huh.”
Plastering a smile on my face, I went with changing the subject again. “But seriously, Rip, everything else aside, I want you to know I’m being serious about this favor thing. You don’t owe me anything. You don’t have to do anything. Going with me to the funeral was more than enough.”
“I don’t care what you think. I still owe you.”
I crossed my eyes and didn’t bother holding back a sigh. I didn’t even know why I was bothering insisting. Like he was going to change his mind. I could only wish.
And really, why was he being so freaking talkative? I liked it. I liked it a lot, but it didn’t make any sense.
Just as I was opening my mouth to tell himfine, someone called out “Luna!” right behind me.
I barely managed to glance over my shoulder when a male body stopped directly beside me. Tipping my head back, I found a familiar face grinning down at me.
“How’s it going?” the late twenty-something-year-old asked.
“Hey, I’m good. How are you?” I asked the guy back.
“Good, good. Owen invited us to come by.”
I smiled at him.
“I wanted to tell you. I did that rice thing you said to do with my phone last time I saw you, and it worked like a charm. Let me know if you want a drink. I got you,” he offered, sliding Rip a quick glance before dropping his hand off me. “Least I can do.”
“I’ll let you know, but I’m glad it worked.”
“See ya,” he said with a grin before turning around and heading back toward the bar, disappearing into a small group of people.
Turning back to Rip, I raised my eyebrows. “He works at one of the parts stores we order a lot of things from,” I explained when I noticed his gaze was in the direction the guy had gone.
That had my boss glancing back at me with that remote face.
“He’s nice,” I added for some reason I wasn’t totally certain of.
His fingers brushed over the stubble covering his chin, eyes zeroed in on me almost thoughtfully.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What?” I insisted.
“Nothing, Luna.”
Okay then. If he didn’t want to tell me, I was fine with that.
“Luna!” another familiar voice shouted in the bar.
Glancing over my shoulder, the group of coworkers I had greeted when I’d first walked in—who were behind me—waved me toward them. “You can have my seat!” one of them offered.
“I’m okay!” I yelled back. “I’m all right over here.”
“You sure?”
