Page 151 of Unexpected Hero

“Hey! Not all of us are boys,” Kri yells at Sawyer’s back after tossing down two twenties.

“Yeah, some of us are men,” Shep adds, throwing down a fifty.

“You wish,” Kri snarks.

Shep stands, extending his hand to Kri. “I accept your challenge. Let’s go.”

“What are you talking about, weirdo?” she asks.

“I’m about to prove how much of a man I am. Let’s go. Don’t make me ask again.”

She rolls her eyes and rises from her barstool while reaching into her back pocket.

Klein’s eyes bulge, and his jaw wags. “Wait a second. Hold the phone. Did that work?”

Kri dips her hand into her back pocket. “Nope. I’m just getting something for him.” She removes her empty hand from her pocket with her bird finger extended and flips Shep off. Everyone busts out in laughter.

It’s funny. But I need to leave. I have to get to Lettie before I crawl out of my skin.

Shep’s joke about being a man is the last straw. My father might not have thought of me as a real man, but he was fucking wrong. Tonight, I’m going to man up and face Lettie. And not by stalking her like a fucking creep.

I’ll walk up to her with my heart in my hand. Either she accepts me or rejects me. But I’m done lingering in the periphery, hiding from her.

And hiding from my feelings.

“Sammy, can I have my check? I need to run.”

“Sure, Tomer. Be right back.” As she goes, she looks at her brother. “Go fetch your friend.”

Leo cranes his neck to look at Sawyer in the corner with the creep. “He’s doing fine on his own, sis.”

When Sammy returns with my check a few moments later, Sawyer comes breezing up to the table with the man in tow. He’s pinned the creep’s arms behind his back in a submission hold. The jerk’s face is red, and he’s gritting his teeth. Looks to be in a bit of pain.

Sawyer growls in the creep’s ear. “What do you have to say to the nice lady?”

The man glares over his shoulder at Sawyer, but it only makes him tighten the hold on his arms.

“Fine, just ease up.” To Sammy, the man reluctantly says, “I’m sorry if I bothered you.”

“No, that’s not what you wanted to say. Don’t be shy now. Try again.” Sawyer’s grip tightens, as evidenced by the hiss of pain from the creep.

“I apologize for not listening when you told me no. It won’t happen again.” He glances at Sawyer over his shoulder. Sawyer dips his chin at him, prompting him to continue. “And I’d never have a shot with a woman like you anyhow because I have a micropenis.”

Sawyer releases him from the hold but keeps one hand on his shoulder, applying force to a pressure point. “Unfortunately, our new friend is leaving now. Everyone say goodbye to our friend.”

The entire group of us, myself included, holler, “Goodbye” in unison, then devolve into laughter as Sawyer marches him out the front door.

When he gets back, Sammy’s glaring at him. She’s outright fuming with her foot tapping frantically and fists on her hips. “I can’t believe you did that. I’m going to get fired.”

Sawyer scoffs. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Klein chimes in. “That’s right. We’re all witnesses.”

Heads nod in agreement around the table.

Grumbling under her breath, she presses her lips together and steps closer to Sawyer, jabbing him in the chest with her finger. “If I lose my job, you’re going to be paying all my bills. And I expect an extravagant lifestyle.”

Sawyer grins as wide as the day is long. “Weird way to propose, but I accept.”

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