Lazy. Sharp at the edges. Smug. Dragged out like he thinks the world's a joke.
Dain fucking Chambers.
He's leaning back against the bar like he owns the place. Rolling his shoulders. Watching the room like he's bored with it. Then he sees me.
He doesn't say anything right away.
He waits, cocking his head at me as a smirk paints his face.
Then-
"Didn't think she'd go for you after what I did first."
It's quiet.
But I hear it, just like he wanted me to.
Leon scoffs. "What are you rambling about, Chambers?"
Dain swirls the ice in his glass, doesn't look at Leon. He's only looking at me. His eyes flit over my no doubt harsh expression, the tense shoulders. The way my fingers are strangling the neck of beer bottle.
I want to shut him up.
"Relax," he says. "I'm just surprised. Guess she's not picky."
My fingers tighten further before I force myself to release the bottle, letting it drop to the bar counter.
Justin shifts beside me, his eyes moving from me to Dain to Leon.
"Leave it," he mutters under his breath. "He's just trying to get a ride-"
Dain tilts his head.
"Sloppy seconds aren't usually your thing, Hudson."
The word sloppy lands wrong.
Not because of what it implies.
Because of how he says it.
Like she's something dragged across concrete.
Like she's a punchline.
My jaw aches with how hard I'm clenching my teeth, trying to calm myself down and not make a scene. It's what he wants.
"Touchy subject?"
Temporary.
We need space.
If that's what you want.
She ended it.
And I just said okay.
