“She told him no,” Jos adds as Van and I turn our attention back to her.
I make a mental note to ask her about it. “Good. I don’t like the way he looks at her.”
“I don’t like the way he looks, period,” Van sneers.
Something we agree on.
“All right, I’ve got to pick up The Assignment soon,” I say.
“I’ve gotta run, too.” Van pulls her purse off the chair next to her. “I have a meeting.”
I nod at Jos. “You’re hanging out at The Oasis with TJ while Track and Hope are gone?”
“Yeah. Talk about a sentence. He’s been extra pissy lately.”
Van snorts. “Good luck with that. All he does is groan and grump.”
“What in the hell is your deal with him?” I ask. “Seriously, you guys have been at each other’s throats.”
She digs around in her purse, searching for something. “Nothing. He just doesn’t know how to mind his own damn business.”
Van is guarded and private. She was the last one to join our pack. She doesn’t talk much about her past.
She stands. “Oh, I’ve talked to Lyla a few times. I think she’s good, but I’ll be in New York in two weeks, so I’ll see for myself. All she said was that guy, Cole’s friend, reminded her of someone.”
I frown, knowing bullshit when I hear it, but I keep that to myself.
“I love you guys,” she says, heading for the door.
“Even when we don’t.” Jos and I reply.
Jos balls her napkin and shoots it toward the trash, sinking her shot. “I’m out. I’ve got some work to do at the shop, then Kelsey and I are going to the gym.”
“Good. Might be a good idea to get her to the range, too.” We stand, and I punch her shoulder. “Save some sparring power for me.”
“Bring it on. I’m ready.” She holds up her fists as she walks backward toward the exit. “Tell James I’ll see her later.”
I nod at Bud on my way to the kitchen. Jamie stands at the counter, filling bowls with soup while someone else assembles sandwiches.
I bump her hip with mine. “Hey, what’s this I hear about you being asked out?”
She glances at me and then back at the six paper cartons of soup in front of her. “He’s asked me out three times, but it’s not happening.”
“Good. I don’t like the way he watched you walk back here.”
She shrugs. “He’s nice, but I don’t know. I think he likes himself more than he’s capable of liking anyone else.”
I laugh. “Good eye. I’d agree.”
“Besides, even if I could, I wouldn’t date one of Bud’s guys.” The ache in her tone causes the new one in me to flicker to life.
I don’t know what the hell is happening, but I need it to stop.
I help her place the soup on small metal trays beside the sandwiches. “Anything new with the place upstairs?”
She plates chips and then a pickle. “Someone signed a lease with first and last month’s rent. They couldn’t pass that up, but they said the tenant across the hall got engaged and wants out ofher lease. She’s moving out of state and would sublease it to me, so I have to decide quickly.”
“What do you think?”
