Page 48 of Unhinged

I do a mini curtsy, making the table laugh. Candi says, “Let us know when you want refills.”

“Sure thing,” Jason says from the other side of the table. All are so cute, and they make me smile.

Before I leave, Tanner nods at my left hand before reaching for it, asking, “Is that an engagement ring?” I’m so far from one of those, it’s funny. And tragic.

“It’s a mood ring.”

“What’s blue mean?”

“Calm.”

“Hmm.” He grins and releases my hand. “I guess maybe you need some excitement, then.”

I laugh as my heart races. “I guess so.”

He reaches for his beer, and I take that as a successful round of flirting. I could have a new guy for almost every night next week.

Distracted, I follow Candi as she rambles more tips for me I probably should know. I look over my shoulder twice to see three of the guys watching me. I smile, and I’m so caught up with Tanner that I don’t notice us stopping at the bar. I bump into her, and Candi grabs my arm, pulling me toward her. “Hey, Greg. Aren’t you going to introduce yourself to my cute new apprentice?”

My mouth falls open before I glance at where she’s looking. Greg Rodwell’s brown eyes hone in on me, and they are nothing short of enraged. I swallow loudly, but it’s lost in the bar noise, thank the stars. I immediately look away but then can’t help but look at him again as he retorts, “I’d sooner lick the men’s room toilet seat.”

Candi scoffs, “Well, damn! What’s your problem, Rodwell?”

He shakes his head and smiles scornfully at Candi. “Just calling ‘em how I see ‘em. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.” His sudden Southern drawl surprises me but also feels fake for him.

Candi glances at me and then back at him. “You just met Simone! How could you say that?”

Dropping the Southern charm, he says, “Maybe you should ask her. Because she shares things so well.” He won’t even utter my name.

I frown at him but more at myself as my gaze drops to the bar. “We already know each other.”

Candi turns toward me with interest. “Really? How come you didn’t say anything?”

I manage a shrug that hurts. “It’s no big deal.”

“It kind of is if he’d rather lick a toilet seat.” That’s brutal, considering the toilet seats here.

“We played softball together. He was the pitcher, and I was the catcher.”

A man wearing clothes two sizes too big from a nearby barstool asks, “You mean anal?”

I gasp with a laugh. “No!”

Candi giggles. “Oh, so you were playing with Greg’s balls? Or did he strike out?”

Milt laughs, as do customers at the bar. Greg scowls at their laughter but then also laughs. “She couldn’t even catch a foul ball, let alone play with mine.”

As Candi sets down her tray to retie her apron, she says, “There’s no way in hell you didn’t lust after her. I’d do her.”

Shocked, I laugh, because what the hell? “Uh…”

“As many have,” Greg sneers.

Sadness and pain bite me, but I remain impassive. Candi picks up the tray and laughs. “Come on, Rodwell. You’re so obviously in love with Simone.” She giggles as I forget how to breathe.

Stupidly, I glance at Greg, and the anger on his face only amplifies. “Then you’re obviously blind. That’s the last thing I’d ever fucking feel for her.”

Milt swings a towel in the air as he sets down a bottle of tequila. When Greg doesn’t kill me with a glare, he ignores me, which I think is worse. But why? I don’t need this negativity or his bullshit. Still, it’s partially my fault he’s this upset. He’d rather see me drown in my self-pity.

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