“What?” There’s more growl in it than the question deserves.
“You don’t even know the poor guy,” Flint says, wiping his eye. “You say he’s shady, but he works for you. Indirectly, but still for you. He’s a guard at the hospital. The male has a clean record, good reviews from his unit commander, shows up early. Ridge hand-picked him. He’s not a bad male. And it looks like he really likes Carla.”
That’s my problem exactly. She seems to like him right back.
The drinks arrive. I thank the barman and hand Flint his beer.
“Thanks.” He takes it, then points the neck of the bottle at me. “Just so you know, I’m okay with the whole thing.”
“With what whole thing?” I frown.
“Don’t get mad at Carla’s date on my behalf. Carla and I are cool. We’re friends, we’re on good terms, no hard feelings anywhere. I know you really wanted the two of us together, and I know that’s probably why you’re so angry at poor Malachite.”He laughs. “You keep giving him death stares, man. You should stop before he notices and starts fearing for his life. I’m here to tell you it’s all good. You can stand down. Enjoy your evening, okay?”
I nod.
Thank fuck. He hasn’t put two and two together.
He thinks I’m out here defending his honor. He came over to let me off a hook I was never on, because he’s a good male and a better friend, and this has nothing to do with Flint. Nothing at all.
Just like that, I feel like an asshole all over again.
I really need to stop my shit.
“Okay. Fine. Thank you for coming to talk to me.” I lift my beer an inch. “Maybe I was feeling a bit of unjustified animosity toward the poor male.”
Not for the reasons you think.
“You totally were. Here.” Flint raises his bottle. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings.” We clink softly and drink.
“Is that mine?” Brook asks, arriving at the bar with her eyes on the wine.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Flint says.
“Don’t leave on my account,” Brook says.
“I’m going to go sit and rest my legs. Music starts in five minutes, and I plan on embarrassing myself thoroughly. I’ll see you guys on the dance floor.” He points at both of us on his way past, walking backward two steps before he turns.
“See you later,” Brook calls after him.
I hand over her wine. “Here you go. Sorry it took so long, and sorry for being such a terrible date.”
“You’re not terrible. Middling, maybe.”
I laugh.
She takes a sip and rests her back against the bar next to me. Her gaze travels across the room and stops on Carla and the dipshit.
“It’s Carla, isn’t it? The female you’re in love with.”
My beer stalls halfway to my mouth.
“It’s that obvious?”
“I saw the way you looked at her in the chapel. The way you track her every move, even when you don’t realize you’re doing it. You’re doing it right now, by the way.”
I drag my attention back to Brook. “Yeah. And she’s over there with another male. I can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to her.”
