Page 17

Declan
Tess has a date.
A goddamned, motherfucking date.
It can’t be Logan because I made sure his ass would be stuck behind the bar tomorrow night. When Patrick started talking about closing for the night, I offered him up as tribute. He seemed disappointed but didn’t protest.
So, yeah. it can’t be Logan.
There’s a guy who schedules an oil change every two weeks that stares at her ass when she isn’t looking. Another guy I’ve seen her play pool with a few times at the bar.
Then there’s the guy.
The guy who does her tattoos. She saw him for a while. Six months, two weeks, and five days to be exact. I know they’re still friends. That she still—
“Are you listening to me?”
Fuck.
“I’m sitting three feet away from you, Jessica.” I don’t even try to hide my agitation. “How can I not be listening to you?” I don’t look at her when I say it, using the fact that I’m driving as an excuse to avoid eye contact. After leaving Anton’s I spent three brain-numbing hours listen to her prattle and complain about everything from the fact that Anton refuses to give her preferential treatment to the fact that Cari’s little sister is obviously some sort of psycho.
For the record, I like Grace. She’s hilarious.
“—like a pint-sized slut in that dress.”
My neck instantly stiffens.
She’s talking about Tess.
“Don’t.”
“Why?” I can feel her staring at me, eyes narrowed on my face. “Because you’re still in love with her?”
Yes.
“Because there’s no reason for it.” I pull up in front of our apartment building and put it in park. “She’s never done anything to you.” I turn in my seat and glare at her. “Not one fucking thing. Ever.”
Her cheeks flush and her eyes narrow even further. “Well, she’s still in love with you.”
I don’t know if that’s true. A part of me wishes it was. The selfish dick part of me who takes what he wants and doesn’t give a shit who gets hurt in the process. That guy wants Tess to love him. He wants to tell Jessica to get the fuck out of his car. He wants to go find Tess. Keep her. Fucking kidnap her if he has to. He’s the guy who lost his shit when she turned up half-naked and hanging all over some random douchebag on Halloween. The guy who stole her cat. The guy who kissed her outside the bar a few weeks ago. The guy who ambushed her at Benny’s just a few hours ago.
He’s the guy who can’t leave her alone, no matter how hard I try.
These days, it’s getting harder and harder to keep him on a leash.
When I don’t answer her or turn off the car she stops glaring and starts pouting. “You’re leaving again?” She sounds upset. Like she wants me to stay home but she doesn’t. She’s as eager to be rid of me as I am of her.
“Yeah.” I turn in my seat and shift the car back into drive. “It’s Friday, remember?” Friday night is the only night we’re all behind the bar—Con, Patrick, Logan and me. Which means I have the distinct pleasure of watching Logan and Tess flirt with each other all night while I fantasize about murdering him.
“Will you be late?” Jesus, she sounds almost hopeful.
I almost say, oh yeah—it’s baseball season. Time to start fucking your ballplayer again.
Instead I just nod. “I’ll probably end up crashing at Con’s.” He’s not there much since Hen came back for good, so the lie is at least plausible, but she still doesn’t believe me. She thinks I’m fucking around on her. As long as it isn’t with Tess she doesn’t care.
“Okay.” She gives me a fake-sweet smile and reaches for the door handle. “I love you.”
No, you don’t.