An awkward silence settles over the table, and Lakelyn shifts uncomfortably, her eyes darting to me before settling back on Chad. I’m positive she’s going to take him up on the offer, and I lean back in the booth, my full attention on her, willing her not to say yes.
"I appreciate the offer," she says carefully, her tone gentle but firm, "but I have some things to take care of after work."
I want to jump for fucking joy. Instead, I tamp down the grin that wants to pull at my lips because I know she will knock me upside my head if I let it out. I shift my attention to Chad to see how he takes rejection.
On the show, he told the guys to pick Lilah on his last date with them. After working his ass off to be at the end, he switched up the whole script and pushed them to her. They would have picked her anyway, and maybe he was saving his ego by rejecting them first. Who knows.
His smile remains in place, but there’s the faintest flicker in his expression—a momentary crack in his confidence. It’s so quick that I almost miss it, but the brief shadow that passes over his eyes makes me pause. Did I just imagine that?
"Another time, then?" Chad says, his voice steady, though I can’t shake the feeling that he’s trying a bit too hard to play it cool.
Lakelyn hesitates, then offers a small nod, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Maybe."
His grin widens, but I can’t stop myself from wondering if that tiny slip in his demeanor was real. It’s subtle, barelynoticeable, but it lingers in the back of my mind, making me question what I really saw.
"Well, I'll be here enjoying this delicious meal if you change your mind," he says, giving her one last lingering look before turning his attention back to his plate.
Lakelyn gives a polite smile before backing away, her eyes meeting mine briefly. There's a question there, maybe even a hint of frustration, but before I can decipher it, she's gone, attending to another table across the diner.
I turn back to Chad, who is casually enjoying his meal as if this is all a game to him. Maybe it is. But for me, it's anything but.
"You seem awfully interested in someone you just met," I comment, picking up my fork and stabbing at the food in front of me.
Chad chews thoughtfully before responding. "And you seem awfully territorial over someone who'sjust a friend," he counters.
I narrow my eyes, refusing to rise to the bait. "Just looking out for her. She doesn't need guys like you complicating her life."
He chuckles, wiping his mouth with a napkin before leaning forward, his gaze intense. "Guys like me? You mean successful, charming, rich, and interested? Or is there another stereotype you'd like to throw my way?"
I lean in as well, matching his intensity. "I mean guys who waltz in thinking they can have whatever they want without considering the consequences."
Chad's smile turns cold, and for the first time, there's a flicker of something serious in his eyes. "Trust me, I know all about consequences. And I'm not here to play games or cause trouble. But if Lakelyn wants to get to know me, that's her choice, notyours."
The absolute certainty of his statement sets me on edge. I open my mouth to retort, but the sound of a crash from the kitchen draws both our attention. Lakelyn rushes past us, a look of concern on her face as she heads toward the commotion.
Chad watches her go, his gaze softening slightly before he turns back to me. "Maybe instead of trying to control her decisions, you should focus on figuring out why you're so desperate to keep her to yourself."
His words hit closer to home than I care to admit, and for a moment, I have no response. Chad takes advantage of my silence, sliding out of the booth and tossing some cash onto the table. Way more than a breakfast burrito warrants.
"Thanks for the company," he says smoothly, adjusting his jacket. "Give my compliments to the chef."
Before I can say anything, he walks toward the counter, exchanging a few words with the cashier before heading for the door. As he passes by the kitchen entrance, Lakelyn emerges, nearly colliding with him.
They share a brief exchange—a smile, a few words I can't hear—and then he's gone, the bell above the door chiming softly in his wake.
Lakelyn watches him leave, a complicated mix of emotions flickering across her face. When she turns back to me, there's a question in her eyes, but also a hint of disappointment.
I realize then that my attempts to protect her might have gone just a little too far.
She approaches the table slowly, her fingers twisting nervously around the edge of her apron. "Mason, what was that all about?"
I exhale sharply, rubbing the back of my neck as I try to rein in the mess of emotions swirling inside me. "I was just looking out for you, Lake. Guys like him... they don’t stick around."
Her eyes narrow, arms crossing over her chest, and there's a stubborn set to her jaw. "And how would you know that? You don’t know him."
"Neither do you," I retort, unable to keep the bite out of my voice. The image of her, not even a half hour ago, nervously asking me if I’ve ever thought of us together before flashes through my mind, making my chest tighten. "One minute, you’re asking me if... you know... and the next, you’re all interested in some guy you barely know?"
Her face falls, hurt flashing in her eyes before she hides it behind frustration. "Maybe I was just trying to figure things out, Mason. Maybe I wanted to feel like someone wanted me. But it’s hard to do that when you’re acting like... like some overbearing bodyguard."
