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“I was only trying to cheer her up with the dance.” He lay his hand on top of hers as he’d done at the restaurant earlier that day. “And so you know, I’m not the kind of guy who hooks up with random girls either. Not anymore.”
Her eyebrow lifted. “Oh? What about the blonde?” She tilted her head toward the woman who’d been eyeing them since he’d left her behind.
“I’m not above a little flirting once in a while.”
“I’ve noticed.”
He laughed, then turned serious. “So, her ex was pretty bad, huh?”
Genevieve nodded. “You know how alcoholics say they don’t need to drink, that they can quit whenever they want? That was Nolan.”
“He’s an alcoholic?”
“No. He’s a sociopath. He’d say horrendous things to her, insult her appearance and things she did, threaten to leave her just to get his way. He was a pathological liar and cheated on her all the time. Then when she’d confront him, he’d apologize over and over, beg her not to leave him, tell her he’d never do it again and he couldn’t live without her. The cycle went on and on for years.”
“Oh, man, that’s awful.”
“I’m not sure she would’ve left him if our dad hadn’t died. Nolan made some excuse for not coming to the funeral, when he was really with another woman. That was the absolute last straw for her.”
“Good for her.”
Genevieve shook her head. “I used to think maybe Nolan had some redeeming quality in him, but I don’t believe guys like him are capable of change. They’re just born losers.”
Sebastian didn’t respond to that, and when she looked over at him, he was staring down at the beer bottle in his hands.
“Was that too personal to share with my boss?” she asked nervously.
He lifted his eyes to hers and gave her a weak smile. “Not at all. I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced back at his supposed friends. “I really should get back to them. Thank Rhonda for the dance for me.”
“I will.”
“Enjoy your night.”
“You too, Sebastian.”
She watched him walk away. Something about his demeanor had changed since he’d arrived at their table. She wondered if it was something she’d said.
Rhonda arrived at the table a minute later. “Where’d he go?”
“Back to his friends.”
“Oh.” She shrugged her shoulders. “That was fun while it lasted. Is Kurtis as good looking as Sebastian is?”
She smiled, thinking about those deep hazel eyes that had crinkled at the corners when he laughed. “Better.”
“I don’t know if that’s even possible.”
The girls laughed together and finished their fries and drinks before heading out for the night.
“Are you going to the farm on Sunday?” Rhonda asked when they arrived back at Genevieve’s.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. I haven’t been over there in a month. Mom probably wonders what happened to me.”
“I was there last week. I think Charisma misses you.”