“Wait… what’s the problem, then?”
“Other than the fact I’m a cursed motherfucker who shouldn’t touch her?”
“Sure, let’s start there.”
“How about the fact I gave her my number two nights ago, and she hasn’t called me,” I shared, watching from afar as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Shit. My hands clenched at my sides. I wanted to do that for her. Elizabeth kept staring at the journal until she put it down and picked up her phone. Something in my gut twisted. Was she chatting with someone? Doomscrolling? Swiping up and down for a date?
“You gave her your number, and she didn’t call you?”
“Yup.” Theppopped for dramatic effect. “When I introduced myself at Marie’s and she told me she wasn’t interested andlooked right through me,” I continued, knowing just how much it was going to cost me.
“What?” Shock ran through Onyx’ voice.
“And then proceeded to tell me if I was looking for some strange, she wasn’t it.”
“Strange—“
“Pussy.”
“Fuck,” he cursed, but I could see his gaze light up with amusement.
“Right.”
“But you still gave her your number?”
“After dancing with her all night long. At Marie’s. Until they closed.”
“And you didn’t… try anything?”
“Like take her home?” I asked, and he nodded.
“Nope.” I still regretted not moving in when it had been evident she wanted to kiss me.
“Maybe that’s why?” he tossed out.
“What?” I asked, glancing at the man next to me. Onyx shrugged.
“Look, as someone who’s known you for a long time?—"
“Just spit it out.”
“You’ve never had anyone tell you no. You’re the baby of four brothers, the youngest of us at the brewery. You’ve had it… easy. Especially with women.”
“Onyx—“
“I’m just saying, maybe that’s what this pull you think you’re feeling is? You just gotta go talk to someone else, and you’ll move on. How many times have you said you’re not a relationship guy?”
“I could be,” I argued for some godforsaken reason. Every waking moment and a lot of the ones asleep, I’d been turning that over in my head. Onyx nodded in agreement.
“You’re right; you could be. I’ve never thought otherwise.” I found myself a little vulnerable.
“Even with… the curse?” I asked, knowing just how fucking stupid it sounded. Not that Onyx, or even Bash if he were here, would have judged.
“Austin, we’re grown-ups, man. You have to know that damn curse is crap.”
“You’re not the first one to say that this week,” I muttered.
“Didn’t you say that to Merri when he met Scar?” He tossed my own well-meaning words back at me.
