“He tried to take me home,” I said quietly.“Like it wasn’t even a question.”
“And you?”she asked.
“I was going to go,” I admitted.That part tasted worse coming out.
“Ever,” she said softly.
“I wasn’t thinking,” I added quickly.“I just… I wanted it to stop.The whole thing.I didn’t want to make a scene.”
“You didn’t,” she said.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.“Jude didn’t let me,” I continued.
Lark’s lips pressed together like she was trying not to smile.“Of course he didn’t.”
I rolled my eyes.“Not like that,” I said.“He just… stepped in.Like it wasn’t even a question for him either.”
“And then?”she prompted.
“Then Wrecker stepped in,” I said.“And Oliver.And Pipe.”
Her brows lifted slightly.“Oh.”
“Yeah,” I said.“It got handled.”
That was one way to put it.
A very simple way.
Because what had actually happened felt a lot bigger than that.
Lark leaned against the counter again, studying me.“And Jesse?”she asked.
I shrugged.“He’s gone.”
“Good.”There wasn’t even hesitation in her voice.None.And for some reason, that made something in my chest loosen just a little more.
“He wasn’t who I thought he was,” I said quietly.
“No,” she agreed.“He wasn’t.”
We stood there for a second.
Just… letting that settle.
And then her eyes flicked to my shirt again.
Slow.
Deliberate.
“And then,” she said, the grin coming back full force.“You went home with Jude.”
I groaned and covered my face with my hands.“Lark.”
“You went home with Jude,” she repeated, louder this time.
“Will you keep your voice down?”I hissed.
