Page 67 of Puck Me Back to Life

I blink. “The earrings?”

“Yeah.” His thumb brushes lightly against one.

The contact sends a completely unreasonable amount of heat through me.

“You should wear them more often.”

Heat immediately floods my face all over again.

Ash looks entirely too pleased with himself. Then, just like that, he steps away.

The moment breaks. The tension follows him toward the door. He reaches for the handle.

I remain standing against the counter. Trying to remember how breathing works.

And wondering why hearing him say he likes my earrings feels almost as dangerous as hearing him say he was jealous.

8

Ash

By the time I make it back to the booth, my mood has improved considerably. I slide back into my seat and take a drink of my beer. The hockey game is still playing on the televisions overhead, but I couldn't care less about it now.

A few minutes later Dante returns carrying enough food to feed a small army. He drops three baskets onto the table. One is overflowing with fries. The other two contain a mixture of buffalo wings and garlic parmesan wings.

Dante slides into the booth and immediately starts reaching for fries.

“I wasn't sure what Hayes likes.”

The comment catches me off guard. “What?”

Dante shrugs. “Wings wise. Does he like spicy shit?”

I glance at the food.

Then at him.

Then back at the food.

“Um, I don't know.”

Dante shrugs. For some reason, the gesture makes me smile. Not because of the wings, because Dante actually thought about it. He wanted Hayes to have something he'd enjoy.

“Trying to sweeten him up?” I ask, picking up a fry.

Dante immediately grins. “What if I am?”

I take another drink. “Really have your heart set on the neighbor girl, huh?”

Dante points at me. “Exactly.”

“You don't even know her.”

“I know she's pretty.” He drinks some more beer. “Also, once you and Hayes start dating we could all double date or whatever.”

I glare.

Dante laughs. “You think I didn't notice you glaring at the neighbor girl? Or the way you stalked him into the bathroom? Come on, man. I might be stupid, but I'm not blind.”