Page 10 of Same Thing
“You know what?” she snapped. “No.”
Jackson frowned. “No, what?”
“No to you following me, and no to you badgering me into hanging out with you and fuck no to you eating my food! Also, no to you staying here. This is my spot. I come here. You aren’t taking my spot away from me. No.”
“Yeah, but—”
“What in the fuck is so confusing about what she just told you?” Liam gritted out as he slid into Alese’s chair right beside Jackson. “She was clear.”
“And who are you? Her fuckin’ boyfri—”
Liam grabbed him by the back of the neck and dragged him—dragged him!—out of the bar. Just dragged him right out the front door and thew him onto the sidewalk. He yelled something she couldn’t quite hear, but oh, Liam sounded pissed.
There was a strange heaviness that sparked in the air, and behind her, Liam’s date murmured, “Well, that solves that then.”
Nory didn’t know what she meant, but the woman shouldered her purse more securely and made her way out the front door, past the two men, and turned right to walk toward the parking lot.
Liam said something to her, and then turned for the bar again, his eyes full of fury. He pulled on a pair of sunglasses, but she’d seen it. His eyes were nearly white, they were glowing so brightly. Out the front window, she could see Jackson scramble up and walk back in the direction of the apartments, thank goodness.
Liam grabbed the basket of half-eaten fried green tomatoes and tossed it in the trash, set the empty basket beside the garbage with the others, and returned to push her soda toward Hannah. “Hey, is there any way we can get a re-make on her drink and food?” he asked, as he handed Hannah his credit card.
“I was going to say, I don’t think she should eat or drink after that creep,” Hannah agreed. “Want me to add it to your food tab?”
“If you don’t mind. I don’t think the lady will be returning.”
“I’m so sorry,” Nory said softly as he sat back down in Alese’s chair, and she settled into hers. “I didn’t mean to ruin your date.”
“Blind date, set up by my people, and I’m pretty sure they don’t know me at all at this point.”
Nory thought he was joking, but he looked angry still. “You’re joking, right? That woman was perfect.”
“She picked all breading off the fried pickles because she is watching her figure.”
“Well, that’s kind of fair, she has an amazing figure.”
“She insulted this place a dozen times.”
“Well…that’s a little mean.”
“She told me she will accept nothing less than two carats for her engagement ring.”
“Okay, that’s crazy.”
“Crazy. All my blind dates lately have been crazy.”
Nory pursed her lips, trying desperately to keep her curiosity inside of her.
“Ask,” he said, taking the orange soda from Hannah’s outstretched grasp as she began making another drink. He set it in front of Nory.
“It’s just if you hate doing blind dates so much, why do you keep saying yes to them?”
“Because I need…” He inhaled deeply. “There is some pressure from my…family…to pair up.” He swung his gaze toward her and arched his eyebrows like he was trying to convey something to her. She didn’t get it though.
“Your mom wants grandkids or something?” she guessed.
“No, it’s a rule I have to mind.”
“Procreation—”