I watch as he takes a huge bite, and step toward him. “That was an order.”
The others are staring, but I don’t give a flying fuck about what they’re thinking. I need that burger, and I need it now. More than anything, I need to calm down, and this is the only way I know how at the moment. With a sigh, Lane relents, and I rip his lunch out of his hands, shutting my eyes as I dig in, finding my safe space somewhere between the patty and the melted cheese.
“Better?” He laughs, stretching out his legs.
I ignore him, taking another bite and glancing behind me. Kirk is right where I left him, staring at me, his mouth ajar. Anger has whipped the breath out of me. I’m madder than I’ve ever been.
“I’m in, by the way,” I tell the boys with my mouth full.
Donovan cocks an eyebrow. “What did you say?”
“We didn’t get a word of that.” Lewis laughs.
“I’d love to spend Thanksgiving with you,” I say, slower this time.
“Amazing!”
Adam is beaming at me, and it takes everything I have to steady myself and shoot him a smile back. I wasn’t too sure about spending the evening with them, but my conversation with Kirk has sealed the deal.There’s no way I’m going home.
“Lois?”
“What?” I snap at Lane.
“Easy…”
I sigh. “I’m sorry.”
He nods over at my ex. “What did he say to you?”
I hadn’t realized Lane had been watching us, and that’s too bad—that was one time I would have actually liked him to jump in, for a change. I would even have been happy for Lewis to get involved, which is saying something. Though I’d usually try to dodge the question, this time I need to get it all out.
“He knows I’m crashing at your place, and he had thenerveto guilt-trip me and give me a moral lecture about it.”
“You’re kidding?” Lane stiffens.
“He kicked me out.” The seriousness of what Kirk did is slowly dawning on me. “He kicked me to the curb like a piece of trash.”
“It’s happening, guys!” Lane sings to his friends. “Our little Heartbreak is finally getting it.”
I kick him in the shin. This really isn’t the time to be teasing me.
“We were wondering when you’d wake up and smell the coffee. You’ve been way too understanding, you know. Kirk is a total loser.”
Becca tilts her head. “And he’s heading right this way.”
I freeze. “Seriously?”
“Heading straight for you. And I don’t know what you said to him, but he’s pissed.”
There’s a delusional part of me that almost celebrates. Maybe he’s rattled and he’s coming to apologize. Maybe I finally got through to him. Or maybe he’s just back to throw more crap in my face, and though I stood my ground back there, I don’t think I have it in me to go for a second round. I suddenly wish I was curled up in the fetal position on Lane’s couch.
“I’m out of here.”
“No. Get on my lap, Lois.” There’s a steely edge to Lane’s voice that makes me want to trust him. “Now.”
I drop my bag on the grass and clamber onto him. Lane snakes an arm around my waist and rests his chin on my collarbone. That familiar scent of him is suddenly all over me, wrapping around me like a shield.
“Whoa, dude.” Donovan widens his eyes. “How do youdothat? You ask, she obeys.” He nods approvingly. “That’s impressive.”
