Page 48 of Broken By A King

"We'll talk about this later, Tiny."

"Bye." Stone facetiously waves.

I don't think I've ever seen his face or heard his voice so animated in the short time that I've known him. He actually is getting some sort of sick enjoyment out of this.

Of course, he is, you idiot, he's a criminal.

As soon as Bill exits the bar, Stone slides into the seat opposite me, with some sort of look on his face that I've never seen before. Just like I don't know what he's thinking when he's wearing one of his frozen, expressionless faces, I damn sure don't know what he's thinking now that there's some movement. It's quite peculiar.

"You can do better than him," he states as if he's actually giving me some gems and jewels on how to pick men.

"Are you on drugs?"

"Wouldn't you be able to tell if I was?"

"That was a rhetorical question."

"I'm not used to rhetorical questions. Don't use them with me. I'm used to actual questions that people want actual answers to."

"It's apparent that you're used to prison life. In the real world, there is more than black and white. There are many shades of gray, and that's where sarcasm lives. If you want to have a conversation with me, you're going to have to get used to it. I try not to pass judgment on you because you've done time, but you were a terrible bully today. We're not in the freakin' penitentiary mess hall. Don't act like that again."

"I heard you say the word no, and then I saw his hand still on you. You were pulling away. He wouldn't let go. If there was anyone being a bully in here this morning it was him."

"Last time I checked I didn't have a secret service detail."

"You should. You've got men coming after you left and right. I can't keep up with them all."

"Then don't keep up! Mind your business."

"How was your shift today?"

"Really? You're making small talk now."

"You seem tired."

I counter like I'm in a debate with a five-year-old.

"Shut up. You seem tired."

And at that response Stone laughs.

I mean an actual cackle comes out of his gargantuan body.

A big belly laugh.

It puts a smile on almost everyone in the bar as they watch him.

"Shut up," I say through some stilted laughter of my own. "Shut up."

He quiets down, but there's still a huge grin on his face.

"I can't help it. You make me laugh."

His face grows serious again.

"You make me feel."

Then Stone does something completely unexpected.