She tried not to let the thought depress her and attempted to enjoy Jimmy’s company. Despite it not being a real date, it was good practice.
Jimmy took a sip of his Old Fashioned before leaning forward on the table. “Don’t look now, but he’s watching us.”
Mia’s heart picked up speed. “Is he?”
“Mm-hmm,” he hummed. He reached out and traced her hand with his finger. “Shall we make him jealous?”
“I don’t think it’s possible to make someone jealous who doesn’t want me.”
“He wants you.”
“How do you know?”
“The permanent scowl on his face is a pretty good indication.”
She wanted to believe him, but it was hard. It didn’t hurt to play along, though. She leaned forward just as he had and reached her hand closer to his. He picked her hand up and threaded his fingers through hers. His hand was soft, but it wasn’t like when she held Jackson’s hand. Not that it happened often, but she had held his hand a few times when he was helping her over a log or a rock when they were hiking. One thing she knew was that she felt more of a spark in those fewshort seconds with Jackson than she did with Jimmy right now. Suddenly, she was thankful Jimmy wasn’t interested in her. The last thing Mia wanted to do was let someone down.
A live band had just set up and started playing. After a few songs, people began to get up and dance together. Jimmy held his hand out.
“Would you like to dance?”
Mia blushed. “I’m not very good at it.”
“That’s all right. I’m not either.”
She giggled and took his hand, letting him lead her over to an open area that was treated as a dance floor. As they passed by Jackson’s table, he gave her a surprised look, and she only shrugged in response.
Stepping out onto the dance floor, Mia shook her hips to the music while Jimmy danced around her. She laughed when he started doing the sprinkler. It wasn’t until she saw Jackson leave the bar that Jimmy gestured for them to go back to their table. When they walked by the Blake brothers, Ethan gestured for Mia and Jimmy to join them. Mia sat in the chair Jackson vacated, and Jimmy pulled up a chair.
“That was quite the show,” Ethan said.
Jimmy shook out his hands. “I’ve got moves.”
“I think that got to him,” Noah said.
“One hundred percent. I could tell he was getting mad and got a little worried he would punch me. I figured Ethan would stop in if it got that far, though.”
Ethan laughed. “Of course. We had your back.”
Miles chuckled and took a long sip of his beer. “All right. Now that that’s over, I need to get home to my little girl.” He waved before leaving.
Jimmy stood up next. “I also need to get home. I’ll see you all later. Mia, it’s been fun.”
Once he left, Mia sat with Noah and Ethan, pulling a lip between her teeth and worrying it. “Is he mad?”
“Not at you. I think he’s realizing there might be something there,” Ethan said.
“Is this mean to do?”
“No,” Ethan and Noah said at the same time.
“He’ll thank us later,” Ethan said.
“That reminds me. Noah, did you tell Jeff to ask me out in front of Jackson?”
Noah laughed. “Yep. We found out Jackson was going to Brewbirds this morning and figured you’d be with him.”
Ethan chuckled. “He was pretty crabby at work today. I think it rattled him.”
Noah and Ethan bumped fists.
Mia shook her head. “Hopefully by the end of this, he isn’t angry with me.”
