Much easier to look at the vintage gas pump over on the wall that Dopie refurbed into a working juke box.
“That scowl. It’d trigger rain.”
“If you say so,” I mutter.
I know I’m a goner because the fact that Denny looks pretty against a red-and-white vinyl banquette seat tells me I’m screwed.
But I knew that the moment she told me brokenly that marriage wasn’t for her. Relationships or love, either.
I don’t know why that conversation messed with my head, just know that it did.
“I do. And you asking for your jerseys back is proof that hell is freezing over and no one warned me. Also, what’s with the flowers?”
I refuse to react. It’s taken long enough for her to freakin’ notice I keep refilling her vases. “I want to wear my clothes again. That’s all. And hey, I like flowers too.”
Her expression’s unimpressed. “Want a fry?”
I gape at the offer. Dennynevershares carbs. She always makes Peeks and I get our own because she claims we’re carb thieves.
“You’re being weird.”
So, I’m not the only one who’s picked up on how strange the vibe between us is.
Because I hate it, so fucking much, I turn into the booth and stare her straight in the eye for the first time since invite-only night. A question is on my lips.
Not the smart one.
Not the wisest one.
But—
“Zach!”
Addison Fitzpatrick shrieks my name from the doorway and the curiosity in Denny’s eyes instantly fades. She turns her attention to her fries and even puts her hand beside them as if shielding them from me.
Goddammit.
I turn my ‘thunder’ scowl on Addison, who falters in response but, like the goddamn nuisance she is, strides onward as if that were an invitation.
I fucked her two nights before invite-only night with Laura Whatsherface and she’s acting like she sucked my cock this morning.
When she glowers at Denny and makes a shuffling motion with her hands, my frown deepens. “Denny’s not moving, Addison.”
With a tsk that a bright smile half-shields, she takes a seat beside her.
Unfortunately for me, she brings with her a bunch of our friends. Pecan’s there with his girl, Hailey, which is unusual as fuck—I swear, she’s only around four minutes minimum before she has to leave for somewhere else. Alec and Freya are here, as well as the other new kid in the sophomore class—Callan.
He’s with his dog, the one that either cowers or bites, nothing in between.
It mostly started as him tutoring Denny and Pecan, who are flunking a couple classes and needed extra help, but Denny likes him and ever since,he’s been hanging out with us.
She even perks up in her seat at the sight of him, which immediately messes with my head.
The kid has zero baggage, isn’t a manwhore, and is decent all round.
I just know she’ll end up with him if I don’t fix things between us. But how do I fix what?—
“Whoa,” Pecan declares as he takes a seat opposite me. “Did someone wake up in a bad mood or what?”
