“You know me, June, ever the idiot,” he grumbles and lifts his hat, rubbing his head before placing it back on, directing his attention to me.
“You should save her from that asshole. You’ve been ogling her since you walked through the door,” Sterling says.
I don’t answer, taking another drink.
Sterling shrugs. “No problem, I can,” he says and takes a step.
I grab his shoulder before he takes another step. “She’s spoken for.”
Sterling laughs. “Is she?”
“Sterling,” I growl.
He grins widely. “That’s alright, I can ask that pretty lady to dance,” he says, lifting his chin to a group of women.
“You make it sound like I’m a jealous man whore,” I grumble.
Sterling chuckles. “No man, that’s me, but it’s not like you have troubles with the ladies. What’s the hold-up?”
“At least you’re honest with yourself,” June grumbles, loud enough I can hear, but I don’t think Sterling heard her.
I shrug. “This is different.”
Sterling snorts. “I've heard that one before.”
“Not from me, you ass,” I grumble.
He chuckles. “No, from someone else,” he says and glances at June, who’s focused on the label of her beer bottle.
“Why don’t you go steal her for a dance then?” Sterling asks.
I glance at him and look at June.
“On that we can agree. If you don’t, I will so I can tell her the man getting a little too handsy is not worth her time,” June says.
Jacob pulls Mae closer as Shania Twain plays, and he drops his hand on her ass again. Something snaps in me, and I don’t wait for her to correct him again.
I move through the crowd as if the people dancing are the mountain, and Mae is twirling at the top of it.
Coming up on them, Jacob turns, halting his steps. Mae’s forced smile drops, and her eyes widen.
“Can I cut in?” I ask Jacob as politely as possible while still staring at Mae.
“No, you can’t,” he says.
I keep looking down at Mae with her beautiful long curly hair and pink painted lips staring up at me. “Mae?” I ask her.
“Cooper, I’m on a date,” she says.
“I can see that, but are you aware ofwhoyou’re on a date with?” I ask her.
She makes a face and glances at Jacob. “Yes,” she grits.
“Back off, Hayes,” Jacob says.
They take off around the dance floor, and I go back to where June has been watching the whole time.
“I take it that didn’t go well,” she says.
