Jarrett: Landry’s sobering up, take your time.

Two of the most inconsiderate, self-serving people on the planet… I never think like that of my brother. But damn, Landry invites Reece here for a visit and abandons her twice? From what I’ve seen, Reece is a damn fine friend. So far she’s helped Landry move, with no lingering anger whatsoever from being abandoned, consoled her with empathy and kindness and offered to loan her money. Jarrett should know better than this shit. Tap out your however many minutes of fun, then give the girl a place to sleep. And Reece should seriously consider making some new friends.

Me: Take your time, I’ll take care of Reece. Not fucking cool of her friend, or you, though.

Jarrett: WTF?

Me: Not gonna explain human decency to you right now, I’m on a date. Gotta go.

“What is it?” she asks in a timid voice.

I look up from my phone, her head ducked as though she has a pretty good idea of what’s coming. “Oh, um, Jarrett was just asking our plan. And I have one. You hungry?”

Her head lifts, glee no longer gracing her features. “They don’t want me there, do they? I swear, I’m going home tomorrow. This is ridiculous.” She heaves a sigh of frustration, dropping back in her chair.

Jarrett: I may need to explain “date” to you—not what you’re doing.

Me: Night.

“Can you see if JC can get me a room? Not free though. I’ll hit an ATM.” She fails to hide a slight wince when she says it. “I’ll worry about dealing with the questions later.”

“What questions? From who?” I ask, definitely interested in the answer. This is where she pops my bubble of foolishly thinking there’s something about her and casually mentions the fiancé or husband… she forgot to mention.

“My father, mainly. We’re in business together, sorta, and he’ll grill me over the withdrawal. That part doesn’t bother me as badly as what he’ll say about Landry though. He already thinks she’s flaky, a horrible influence, whatever. I’ve been trying not to give him any ammunition, sticking to the cash I brought.”

She surprises me again. That wasn’t the answer I was expecting, and an honest one I’ve no doubt. Her father’s not exactly wrong on a few points, but I don’t say so.

“I asked you a question.” I pull her up by the hand. “Are you hungry?”

“Rhett, it’s fine. I’ll just get a room. You’ve entertained me long enough.”

“Okay, let me try this another way. I’m hungry, and you just don’t want to admit that you can’t live without my company. So we’re going to eat. Say yes.”

“Rhett…” she dawdles.

“Say yes.” I’m already leading us to the door and she isn’t even attempting to pull her hand from mine.

“I guess I could eat. But you drank. Should you drive?”

I laugh. “Mine were Coke.”

“Coke and…?”

“Ice. Come on.” I speed up our steps.

“You order the same thing every time you come here, don’t you?” she asks, coy little grin and confident twinkle in her eyes mocking me.

“And you order something different at every restaurant, every time,” I counter, having already decided that this time, we’re dissecting all things Reece for a change.

“Basis for your theory?”

I’d forgotten how fucking sexy intelligence can be. “You’re really gonna let me have a turn, huh? Okay.” I put my elbows on the table and lean closer to her across the booth. “You order something different because it makes you feel free, spontaneous. Your tiny consolation of empowerment that you refuse to forfeit, that last saving grace between what you want and what’s wanted for you.”

“How’d you know that?” Her mouth remains agape after she asks.

The waitress brings our food and we both thank her.

“How’d you know all that stuff about me?” I ask.

I take a big bite of my sandwich, giving her time to formulate an answer and because I’m starving.

“So I was right?” she challenges.

I keep chewing but nod. She was right, on all nosy counts. I can’t deny her affirmation.

“Intuition, I guess,” she replies, blasé and popping a shoulder.

I swallow and take a drink. “Well, Teaspoon, I’m equipped with some intuition myself.”

Her phone vibrates on the table with an incoming text and I can see Landry’s name displayed from here. “What’d she say?” I ask after she’s had time to read it.

“She, um, asked if I was on a date?”

Jarrett’s big mouth.

She’s still typing, looking at her phone. “And said I was welcome to come stay there tonight.”

Of course I don’t have the definitive “read” on everything yet, but I know Reece deserves better than being someone’s afterthought, burden or consolation prize when they’re done with whatever’s obviously more important to them.

“What’d you tell her?” I use the ketchup on her plate, since mine is gone, for my fry and pop it in my mouth.

She says nothing and turns the phone toward me.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29