Page 22 of Worth the Fight

“Nah. I get it. You gravitate to comfort. To what’s familiar . . . even when that familiar has done you wrong and is now saying all the right things.”

“Hmm. True.”

“Did you fear you’d get back together with him if you stayed?” Grady asks the question I’ve asked myself a million times. When Jett calls. When he texts. When he’s mentioned on the radio.

Because I’ve taken him back before. Not for cheating though . . . this time was a first. That I know of.

“It isn’t something I’d admit aloud because feminists would be in an uproar . . . but, yes.”

“At least you’re honest. So many people say they wouldn’t put up with it but then end up taking the person back. Hell, I’ve done it.”

His admission takes me by surprise, but I appreciate that he’s trying to put me at ease with my decisions. “You know what the best way to get over someone is, don’t you?”

“Drink?” I ask and laugh as I hold up my empty glass.

“That’s a start, but no.” A mischievous smile curls up the corners of his lips and his eyes fill with amusement. “Sleep with someone else.”

His eyes hold mine as my mind spins. Is he offering to be the someone else? Is he feeling okay? Is he . . . holy shit.

“Wh-what?” I stutter the word out as embarrassment floods my cheeks. “Are you⁠—?”

“There are plenty of guys in here who wouldn’t hesitate to spend the night with you.”

Thank God he cut me off. Thank God he just saved me the embarrassment of asking if he was offering.

It has to be the alcohol making my brain fuzzy.

“C’mon, Dyl. What would it hurt? You have some fun, clear your head for a bit, and realize there are other guys besides Jett Kroger who want you and think you’re attractive.”

“We’re in a bar with a few dozen drunk men. I don’t think my looks factor into anything after a certain number of drinks have been consumed.” But I laugh at the notion anyway. “Besides, you’re crazy if you think I’m going to pick up some random guy and take him home with me. Like that’s safe.”

“First off, it’s my home, so no need to worry about your safety. Remember? Chief Malone’s son, here. And secondly, he wouldn’t be a random guy. I know everyone around here, so I’ll make sure he’s a good fit.”

“A good fit?” I laugh.

“Yeah. Someone who’s not clingy. Who’s not a dick⁠—”

“This sounds so promising already.”

“A guy I don’t have to worry about being⁠—”

“You’re actually serious, aren’t you?” I ask as he stands some from his seat and cranes his neck to survey the patrons of the bar.

“I never joke about getting laid.” He laughs while all I want to do is shrink in my seat and vanish.

“I have to keep up pretenses that Jett and I⁠—”

“Fuck Jett.” He rolls his shoulders. “This is a small town. No one’s even talking about Jett being here so that means he’s keeping a low profile. And his low profile means that no one has connected the dots that the two of you are together. Or rather, not together.”

“This is a bad idea,” I groan.

“You didn’t say no.” He stares at me, eyes alive.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” he asks as he scans the crowd.

“No firefighters,” I say, prompting him to whip his head my way.