“Yes.” We both speak at the same time.
“You did not just say yes!” she hisses at me.
“You were saying yes last night.” Oh, fuck me. I know it’s the wrong shit to say. That is definitely not going to win me any points with her.
“All right.” Joey tries to step in.
“Don’t,” I warn him, shifting my stance so he knows I’m not fucking around. He doesn’t want to go to blows with me. He knows I’ll fry his ass. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“You’re in my shop.” Joey pulls his shoulders back.
“It’s your daddy’s shop,” I remind him.
“And you spend your daddy’s money.”
I step closer toward him. “My daddy’s dead,” I say mockingly. “And you know that.”
“Okay, that was a low blow, Joey.” I have to suppress a smirk at the sound of Madeline coming to my defense. Joey opened me right up to that shot, and I took it. I always do.
“Yeah, Joey. Have some compassion. My buttercup here lost her own father a month ago.”
“You’re pushing it.” Madeline points one of her purple-painted fingernails at me. “And I told you to stop calling me that.”
“I tell you to do all kinds of shit, and you ignore me.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.” Joey tries to cut back and apologize to Madeline.
“You see I’m talking to my girl here.” I take another step toward him. This time Joey is smart enough to take a step back.
“That’s it.” Madeline jumps up from her chair, and what would you know? She’s got pants on for once. Thank fuck.
“Nice jeans.” Madeline opens and then closes her mouth before dropping her head to fight a smile.
“I’ll give you two a minute.” Joey finally backs all the way down. His punk ass makes sure he gets a last word in, but not until he’s almost at the door where he can make an escape. “This can’t be happening. Customers could have been in here, Lucky.”
“Stop calling her that,” I warn. He’s pushing it. What time does this place close? Joey and I need to have a private conversation.
“That’s rich coming from you.” Madeline rolls her eyes at me.
“I am rich.” It’s a dick jab at Joey, but he’s got it coming. “And your mouth was on me last night. That makes you my girl, and I can call you whatever I like.”
“You won’t call me shit when I bury your ass.” Joey wisely slips from the room. “I can’t believe you did that. I’m at work.”
“You don’t need a job.”
“Asshole,” she mutters.
“See, you’ve even got pet names for me. Now we’re on the same page.” Madeline puts her hand over her mouth. I don’t know if she’s thinking or hiding a smile.
“Why are you messing with him?” she says when she finally drops her hand. “I work here.”
“I wasn’t messing with him. He was all over you.”
Madeline stares up at me. “If that wasall over me, then by those standards, we fucked last night.”
“If you think that was fucking, I have a few things I need to show you.”
“Oh my God.” She stumbles back a few steps. That, out of everything, has really pissed her off. Madeline’s cheeks start to flush. “I’d never fuck you. I prefer not to have STDs.”
