Cool.Cool, cool, cool.
As if he can feel my stare, Bryan finally acknowledges me.“Oh, hey, man.I’m Bryan.”He lifts his chin in greeting while I bite my tongue to keep from mimicking him like I’m in grade school.
Instead, I smile up at the bastard and open my mouth to reply when June cuts me off.“Bryan, this is Ford.Ford Harden.He’s a…friend of a friend.”
Friend of afriend?
Did I just get friend-zoned?
No, I’m not even friend-zoned.I’m one step removed from the friend zone.I’m like the weird uncle at the family parties who no one wants to sit by.Which is…pathetic.Accurate and pathetic.The friend-of-a-friend part, not the weird uncle part.I’m going to be a phenomenal uncle.But I digress.
Besides, it’s not that I care about the title she placed on our relationship.It’s how she cares to disassociate from me as much as possible in front of this guy.Like, what the fuck, June?I thought we were…friends of a friend, apparently.
“We’re actually lovers,” I announce, while refusing to acknowledge the lingering sting from her words or the real reason behind my bullshit response.“She’s just not ready to admit?—”
“He’s joking,” June rushes out.Something connects with my shin beneath the table, and my leg jerks back on contact, leaving my shin screaming in protest.
Did she just kick me?
My eyes bulge toward the woman across from me.
The little minx kicked me.
“Right, Ford?”she pushes.Her gaze pleads with mine.“You’re joking?”
Well, would you look at that?Seems the tables have turned, haven’t they, June Bug?
Considering my options, I hold her stare.I could throw her under the bus.I could call her out for not-so-subtly kicking me beneath the table.I could lie and say we’ve been fucking each other’s brains out for weeks.Or, I could resist my usual persona, give in, play nice, and help myfriend of a friendget laid, since it’s clear she’s interested in this guy.Personally, I don’t see the appeal.He’s what?5’10?Smooth face.Short, dark hair.Friendly smile, I guess.You know, if you’re into spineless golden retriever vibes, then sure.Go for it.She’ll be bored within a week.Or she could fall in love, settle down, have two point five children, and the white picket fence I’m sure she’s dreamt of having for years.Until she realizes she’s tied down to a man who’s been sleeping with his secretary.You know, if firefighters have secretaries.
Yeah, I could do a lot of things.
Please.
The word doesn’t belong to me, and it sure as hell isn’t spoken aloud.Nah.Here it is.Another fleeting moment where I can read the girl’s thoughts as if we’re telepathically connected.She wants me to play nice.To play wingman.And hell, who am I to stand between June and her fireman?
Trouble is, I clocked the truth as soon as he walked in.She could do so much better.She could have whoever she wants.Any guy on campus, and her sights are set onthisguy?
Another beat passes before I glance up at Bryan again.“Yeah, she called it.I’m the funny one.Nice to meet you, Bryan.”
Bryan’s mouth lifts, not the least bit intimidated, though I try not to let it get to me.Trybeing the keyword.“You, too, man.”He turns back to June and squeezes the back of his neck.“Listen.I was actually planning to stop by the dental office after my shift, but since you’re here, I wanted to, uh, ask for your number.”
Is this Boy Scout act for real?
“Really?”June whispers.Her voice is light and airy and sounds like it belongs to a princess in a Disney movie.
Bryan nods.“Yeah.I’ve been, uh, I’ve been kicking myself for the last week, wishing I’d done it when I brought my sister in, but…”
His voice trails off.I gotta give the guy credit.If he’s going for the boy-next-door persona, he’s nailing it.Give this guy an Oscar, you know what I mean?Or maybe it isn’t an act.Maybe he’s an actual decent guy.He puts out fires for a living, so he can’t be too bad, can he?
I glance at June again.The way she runs her thumbs along the outside of her iced coffee cup.The way her mouth curves with the barest hint of a crooked smile, despite trying to hide it.The way she’s looking up at him like they’re the only two people in the shop.Like I’m not sitting across from her.Like I don’t even exist at all.
Well, fuck.
Between Jagger and Violet, now June and Mr.Fireman, maybe there’s something in the water.Something about love and intimacy and…
I fight the urge to gag.
“Ford!”Jagger calls, our coffees in hand.
