“You got something to say?” he asked, when Jace turned back around.
“Nope.” Jace sighed, heavily, and for some reason that irritated Grayson even more.
What the fuck was his problem? This almost felt like jealousy, but that didn’t make any sense. Tommy had dated Lark for two years, and Jace never batted an eye about that relationship.
That Grayson knew about.
He frowned, realizing he’d never really paid attention to Lark or Tommy prior to last weekend. Sure, he’d known she was pretty. Everybody knew Lark was pretty, but she’d been Tommy’s girlfriend and an employee and one of Remi’s best friends. Just part of the group. Familiar background noise in his life.
He’d never truly noticed her until the festival, when he’d suddenly become fascinated about every little thing in regards to the woman. Like the way she bit her lower lip when she was concentrating. The tiny line that appeared between her brows when one of the festivalgoers was rude. The huskiness in her voice that night when she was close to falling asleep.
He kept looking for those things this week, but they were missing.
As if sensing his attention, Lark glanced over and their eyes met for all of a single split second. Then her brows furrowed, either in nervousness or confusion—he couldn’t tell which—before she quickly looked away.
Since they returned, it felt as if he was some stranger she couldn’t quite figure out. Like the festival had never happened.
His patience had finally run out, and he rose.
“Where are you going?” Jace asked, somewhat alarmed.
“To talk to Lark.” For a moment, he thought his brother was going to stop him, the realization causing him to pause.
Just long enough that his trip to the counter never happened—because Tommy walked in, spotted Lark instantly, and made a beeline for her.
Grayson frowned, watching as the man stopped in front of the counter. Given Lark’s lack of surprise, it appeared she knew he was coming. Then he overheard her talking to her ex.
“I just need one more minute to finish, then I’ll be ready.”
Ready for what?
Tommy nodded, then spotted him and Jace. Grayson slowly resumed his seat as Tommy stepped over to them. “Hey, Jace, Grayson.”
“What’s up, Tom?” Jace said, when it became apparent Grayson didn’t intend to return the greeting.
“Lark’s got a half-hour break. She agreed we needed to talk.” Tommy’s expression was brimming not so much with hope but with confidence. “She’s been stonewalling me for a full month. Guess I really pissed her off this time.”
Jace sighed. “Guess you did.”
“I’ll make it right,” Tommy said, like a man who fully expected to get his way.
Jace nodded, while Grayson remained where he was, sitting so still he might as well be chiseled from stone.
Lark approached them.
“Ready, babe?” Tommy asked.
Babe? Seriously?
Lark nodded. Tommy reached for her hand, but Lark didn’t take it, turning to walk outside instead. Tommy followed in her wake like a baby duckling waddling into the lake after his mother.
Grayson’s jaw tightened when they disappeared from view.
“You okay?” Jace asked.
“Fine,” Grayson lied.
Jace studied him for a second, his expression sympathetic, but not in a way that annoyed Grayson. In fact, his brother looked as sad as Grayson felt.
