Rowdy leaned away from her. “Maybe someone’s making him uncomfortable.”
She took in the way his chin was tucked back and his head slightly turned away from her.Crap. She pushed herself up to sitting straight. “Sorry.” She smiled pathetically.
He laughed, but it seemed like he was laughing more at himself than he was at her. “Don’t worry about it. This kind of thing seems to happen a lot.”
She pushed her plate to the end of the table and threw her napkin on top. “What kind of thing?”
“I always pick the girl who’s unavailable. I’m drawn to them, and I can’t seem to shake the curse. I find them all over America.”
Gunner’s comment about Rowdy having a girl in every town came to mind. “Oh no.”
He heaved a sigh, his body curling in on itself. “Yeah, it’s been a rough year.”
“Tell me about it.”
He smirked.
“No, really, tell me.” She leaned her elbow on the table and her head on her fist. “I have no desire to go back to the hotel and spend the night tossing and turning. Distract me with your tales of woe.”
He smiled, mirroring her posture. “Since you asked so nicely …”
The aching in Tilly’s stomach lessened as she listened to Rowdy bemoan his social life. They laughed over the woman in Texas who’d asked him to drive past her ex’s house so she could stalk him without the guy knowing. “Did you do it?”
“No.” He ducked his head. “I got out at the top of the street and let her borrow my car.”
She laughed. “You’re too nice.”
“Myex says I have a Superman complex, that I’m always looking for someone to save. It drove her nuts. Did Brayden do anything that drove you insane?”
She paused, considering the question. “No.”
“No way.”
“It’s true. I mean, he left his socks in the living room. But if anyone drove anyone nuts, it was me. I was always borrowing his T-shirts and hoodies and not giving them back. I left my yoga mat out for days and he’d have to step over it. He never said a word.” She felt herself doing that yearning thing again.
“Do you want me to beat him up?”
Tilly giggled. “If you’d asked that question a month ago, I probably would have said yes.”
“But not now?”
“No. I’m through the anger.”
“Then you’re halfway there.”
Yeah, except she wasn’t sure where she was going, because when she made a turn, Brayden was there and she fell for him all over again. “I’m not sure I can get away from him. It’s like my heart doesn’t beat strong enough unless he’s around.”
Rowdy sighed wistfully. “We could have been good together, Tilly.”
She smiled at him, thinking of his skills as a kisser. “If only our stars had aligned.”
“I should have played for the Redrocks.”
“You still can. The owner owes me a favor.” Harper owed her big after the stress this road trip had brought into her life. Not to mention the setback it had caused in getting over Brayden. “I could put in a recommendation. Not that you need it. You have a wicked changeup.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “I’d actually consider it if you were part of the bargain.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
