I clear my throat.
“Anyway, um, I’m sorry about that whole ‘mine’ thing. That came out wrong.”
“Oh, good. Well, now that you cleared that up,” I say sweetly.
“I just meant that I don’t want a mate.”
The words pop out of his mouth so fast, that they practically trip over each other.
Reg chokes.
Gretchen covers her mouth.
Tommy whispers, “Bold strategy.”
I nod approvingly, ignoring the sting in my eyes and the twisting of my gut.
“Excellent. Same page. Next?”
I’m opting to ignore both my idiotic emotions and him.
Rob relaxes immediately.
“Right. Good.”
“So that’s settled,” I say.
“Yes.”
“Yep.”
We both nod.
Then I smile brightly.
“Well, thank you. Goodbye!”
Rob freezes.
“Wait. What?”
“You said you don’t want a mate. I said I don’t want a mate. Perfect agreement. Conversation over.”
I gesture toward the door.
“You’re free to go. I’ve got customers.”
A couple of teenage girls walk in.
Tommy starts chatting them up.
Reg bursts out laughing.
Rob turns slowly back toward me.
Those vibrant navy blue eyes narrow.
“Hold on.”
