I’m also not stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I smile tightly, saying, “Thanks,” while thinking many, many other words. Most of them pearl clutchers.
The four of us stand there, watching the corrupt police officer walk away, and I want to yellSmarter people hold out for cash when they’re bribed,but I don’t.
Instead, I wait until they’re far enough away they won’t hear me, and then I spin and face Chase before doing my best impersonation of him.
Ensuring he sounds like the “bro” he is.
“You can tell me over dinner. Anytime, on me. At LA’s hottest spot ... here’s my card.” I scoff. “Did it say Michelangelo, food god?”
He crosses his arms, smirking. “I don’t know. I can’t read. I’m illiterate, remember?”
I scowl. “Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re also annoying.”
His eyes pop open wider as he speaks with his hands. “What are you mad at me for? You wanted them to do their jobs, and now they’re doing it. The situation just needed a little honey,honey.”
My eyes narrow almost by default.
“I wish I could slather you in it while you cosplay Macaulay Culkin fromMy Girlwith real wasps,” I bite back.
The smirk on his face grows into a smile before he rubs his stubbled jaw. Disgusting. I give him another hateful look, but he takes a step forward, making me blink and match it, backward.
“You’re mad I saved the day.” Another step from him matched in the opposite direction from me. “Say it.”
I furrow my brows, thrown off balance by his boldness.
“You saved nothing. Except their bank account when they get free food poisoning.”
He shakes his head, still walking toward me.
“Nah, you just can’t stand that I solved your problem for you better than you could.”
My face screws up. Men really should only speak when spoken to.
“I literally just said the opposite. Are words hard for you? Or have you always interpreted sarcasm as truth.”
He keeps walking me backward, the look on his face too cocky, so an annoyed huff leaves me.
“Goldie,” I bite out, looking to my sister for help until I realize she and Noah have disappeared.
Shit. When did that happen?I blink just a little too fast before bringing my eyes back to Chase. He smirks.
“Don’t get meek on me now,” he teases. “Where’s that bite I like so much?”
Oh, I’ll bite you. And not in the fun way.
His eyes are locked on mine, and suddenly, my stomach flips just before I shiver and my back hits the wall.
“Shut up” is all I manage before I lift the heart between us like a shield, hoping he can’t see mine beating too fast.
One at a time, his palms press to the wall on either side of me, and goose bumps explode, littering my skin with the trash reaction.
Say something. Tell him off.
Fuck.
“What I mean, since denial isn’t just a river, is that you’re mad that you can’t hate me. You want to, but you can’t. Admit that. I saved the day. Just say you like me, Evie.”
I half blink, feeling like I can’t breathe. It’s probably just an automatic response like fight or flight. He’s the equivalent of a fucking train wreck, so that makes sense.
