“What the fuck are you running your jaw about?”
“I’ve seen the way you look at her, West.Like she’s mama’s cobbler and you just wanna gobble her right the hell up.”
“You’re delusional.”
“Mmm-hmm, and you are in Lurr-ve,” he singsongs.
I’ve got half a mind to whoop his ass right here, but I gotta go get Daisy and—Jesus, Wade was right, I am driving Miss Daisy, but more than that, I’m harboring some stupid crush that I need to get over right quick.She’s about to have a damn baby and I’m ...I’m holding onto something we can never be.
I shake my head.“It ain’t even like that.”
“Who the fuck do you think you’re kidding?My whole life, I ain’t ever seen you this hung up on a woman.”
“You need your goddamn eyes checked, brother.The only thing I’m hung up on is getting Daisy’s car back to her so I can get back to work.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s what I said, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s what you said, but it’s been ready for a week now, and at first, I couldn’t work out why you hadn’t told her, but then I saw the two of you together in her kitchen, and it all made sense.”
Fuck.“You left it sitting here a whole week?”
“No.You left it sitting here a whole week.I told you last Friday when you were running out the door for your hot date.It ain’t my fault you don’t listen.”
“It wasn’t a date,” I say through my teeth.
Wade laughs and unbuttons his shirt tossing it to the creaky floorboards our daddy, grandaddy, and great grandaddy wore through working this land.His grin is smug.
I wanna kick his ass.I’mgonnakick his ass.
“West, there’s only two things I know for certain.Daisy Mae’s been drooling over you since high school,” he says, poking a finger right in the middle of my chest.“And you’re too damn stupid to see it, but you’ve been in love with her since her damn Fiat broke down on the side of that road.”
I shove him back and sneer.“I ain’t in love with her, she’s just got no one else.It’s called being a good friend.”
“Yep.It’s just as I thought.You’re fuckin’ delusional.”He pulls a clean cloth from the stack on the workbench and wets it before lathering it up with soap.“Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s Friday night, and I got somewhere to be.”
“If you mean Earl’s?That’s where I’m headed.Just ride with me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re not heading to Daisy Mae’s, after all?”Wade finishes washing up and pulls a fresh shirt from a hanger above his makeshift desk.He sprays enough cologne to drown Ham and heads for my truck.“Last chance to back out.”
“Shut up and get in the car, Wade.”I open my door and climb in, slamming it behind me.
He holds his hands up in surrender.My phone vibrates and I glance at it as a text from Baby Mama flashes up on the screen.I open it quickly and stare at the gorgeous slice of yellow cake with lashings of rich chocolate frosting.
Baby Mama: So, I know you have a thing for blondes.
Me: Who told you?
Baby Mama: your past dating history.Anywhoo, I figured you might like to spend a little time with this brunette here.She’s a full-bodied yellow with glossy chocolate frosting and a dash of sprinkles.
Me: Can’t forget the sprinkles.
I smile to myself and glance up, noticing my brother glaring at me from the passenger seat with a look that says, “Told ya so.”
“Guess I’ll be driving myself to Earl’s,” Wade says as he climbs out.
“I can drop you.”
