“I just threw up a bit in my mouth.”
“I think Lani would be good for you, bud. You have to stop going for those types you love and leave.”
“No, and Lani is not my type, plus she’s leaving town.”
“No, you don’t love and leave them? Shame on you, Noah, I thought you had skill in that department at least.”
“If I punch you, will you stop talking?” Words he’d never thought he’d say to Buster.
“It’s unlikely you’d get more than one in. I’d have you on the deck before the second connected.”
“You could try.”
“Stop changing the subject.”
“I don’t like the subject.”
“That conversation I interrupted between you and Lani was about the creation of fake potatoes, but I have a feeling there was a lot more underneath that.”
“Genetically modified.”
“Whatever. The point here is the tension between you and Lani in there was so thick I could have swiped my spatula through it. So you’ve either got some serious chemistry, which is good, or you’ve been busy while my back was turned.”
“I don’t want to be your friend anymore.”
“Tough. You’re stuck with me, and as such that means I’m watching over you, bud. As are we all. You’re the last man standing, so it’s like we get to live our past stupidity all over again without the consequences.”
“There is no way I’m as stupid as you and those other idiots. I have way more class.” He only had a few more feet and he’d be at the Howler and this conversation would be over.
“True, and yet that shit in there didn’t have your usual stamp of smooth on it. In fact, I’d say Lani would have skewered you with one of my implements had I not arrived.”
Also true.He’d been an idiot to speak to her as he had, but he’d reacted without thinking. Not something he usually did… except around her.
“So this has been enlightening, but I never want to repeat it, Buster. Now piss off and forget it ever happened.”
Buster gave him a look that told Noah he was fooling himself, and that in fact he’d be relaying what happened in the Hoot word for word to the others.
“She’s not Samantha, bud. She’s sweet, kind, and I’d say pretty innocent about a lot of things. I don’t know anything about her, as she’s pretty closemouthed. In fact, Willow and I think she’s running from something. I mean, she’s got all her belongs in her Bronco, and you say she’s slept in there. That’s not right. Something is off. No one willingly chooses to live life that way.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Okay, maybe I don’t, but I’m going out on a limb here to say I don’t think Lani is doing it by choice.”
Buster was right, Noah didn’t think Lani had chosen this life.
“So maybe there’s pain in there like you have, and she’s doing her best to outrun it, also like you.”
“That’s BS. I’m not hurting, and those are not your words. No way are you that intuitive.” Noah realized he’d just confirmed what he’d denied.
Fuck.
“I’m extremely intuitive, I’ll have you know. Why, just yesterday I took home for Willow a caramel and chocolate muffin without her even asking me to.”
“She’s pregnant! It’s a fairly sure thing that if she doesn’t need the bathroom, she wants food!”
“No need to yell, Noah. I’m standing right here, a few inches from you.”
Noah’s fists actually clenched as he contemplated just ending this conversation with a good brawl right here on the street.
