"Or?"
"Not? Honestly, there really isn’t another option."
I lean forward, the leather creaking as my body shifts. "We could invent another option."
Her eyebrows draw together, bringing my attention back to those eyes that are more green than blue today. "What do you mean?"
"I could help you close and take you for a drink after."
She opens her mouth to answer, but I don’t get to find out what she was about to say.
The owner of Chapters and Brews strides over and wraps Callie in a hug. "Hey, babe. This dipshit giving you any trouble?"
"Very funny, Mo," I say. "I was just offering to take Callie out for a drink after work. No harm done."
"Shooting your shot with my girl, Hayes?"
"Didn’t know she was your girl. My bad."
"Neither did I." Callie crosses her arms over her ample chest.
"Well, fuck me for trying to help," Mo says.
"Thank you for the unnecessary rescue, but I’m fine. Jaxon is basically a part of the furniture in this place. If he was going to kidnap or murder me, he’s had plenty of time to do so."
"So, you’ve noticed me."
"Hard not to when you’re all…" She gestures wildly over my body, and I wish she’d actually put those hands on me.
I quirk a brow. "Gorgeous? Devastatingly handsome? A work of art?"
"Full of shit," Mo quips. "But since you’re offering drinks, I think we shouldbothtake you up on the offer."
"I don’t do threesomes."
"Tattooed cowboys with overinflated egos aren’t really my type, either. But maybe you should try it. Might humble you."
"Oh. My. God," Callie grumbles, covering her face with her hands. "Let me close up, and we can all go for a drink. Asfriends."
She emphasizes the word ‘friends’ like she has a choice in the matter. Sure. I’ll stay in the friend zone for now, but someday soon, she’ll change her tune.
Mo takes a seat in the leather armchair opposite me and sighs as Callie takes her leave.
"Spit it out," I say.
"She’s not your type."
"How would you know what my type is?"
"You forgetting I knew you in high school?"
I give a humorless snort. "That was a lifetime ago. As you know, some things change."
That seems to get through to them, and they nod, their half lime-green, half black hair bobbing with each movement. "Callie’s been through some shit. I won’t get into it without her permission—that’s her story to tell—but if you hurt her, I will kill you. And I know plenty of ways to dispose of your body, so nobody ever finds you."
I hold up my hands in surrender. "It’s a drink asfriends."
"For now. But I saw the way you looked at her."
