Page 55 of I Still Love You

Tilly lifts an arm over the top of his chair. “You’re just mad because I’m saying it like it is. Don’t like it? Do something about it.” He regards me with a challenging gleam in his eyes, his signature look.

He’s lucky he’s a damn decent guy.

My tongue presses into one of my molars, causing my jaw to jut out, and I reach for my soda. I chug down the rest of it and take Tilly’s advice to act because fuck it. Part of the reason I came out was that I wanted to be around her, and I haven’t been able to reap over five damn minutes of it.

I move my hips upward and wiggle my wallet from my back pocket. I grab a fifty and toss it on the table next to Jett because, more than likely, he’ll cover the tab for the rest of the table like he always does. “For Layla and I’s food and drinks.”

“I got it, man.”

“You know I never walk away without offering something. Leave it for a tip.”

“I leave a tip that big, and she’s going to think I want to fuck her, and you know how I feel about clingers.”

“Then fuck her,” I tell him, pushing my chair back and looking down the length of the table to get Layla’s attention. “Or don’t. Long as she’s not my problem, I don’t care what happens.”

“Fucking ruthless,” Jett smirks and shakes his head, taking the large bill, folding it in two, and propping it between the salt and pepper shakers.

There’s only one woman in this place I have my eye on, and she looks nothing like the busty brunette server. It’s a shame I’m about to rip it away, that I’m about to put an end to our charades and yank away the prospect of reconciliation.

24

Layla

I’m a stupid girl; I realize as I walk with Luke out to the parking lot. My car is three rows deep, hidden next to the brick walls that hide the dumpsters. The night sky, splattered with stars, does little to lessen the tension in the air. It’s very real, almost tangible.

Listening to Holly tell me about her attraction to women wasn’t expected. Nor was watching her undress the same server that was eyeing Luke like a lollipop she didn’t get a long enough lick of. Something happened between them. Why else would he allow her to run her hand along his body? Granted, he might have removed said hand, but still. She was comfortable enough to do it in the first place, and not seeing her do it to any of the other guys only confirms the tiny suspicion that’s been a rock in my gut.

They fucked, and he’s going to walk me to my car to be nice, then he’s going to turn around, walk right back inside, and promise her a wild night of sex that I’m well aware he’s capable of living up to.

The rock in my stomach turns jagged, poking into my insides as wildly as our waitress got on my nerves as we approach my car. “Your friends are nice,” I say quietly, stopping at the trunk and turning in his direction.

Just past nine o’clock, summer is fast approaching, and a slight humidity hangs in the air. I blame it, and the stickiness of the crowded space inside, for the way my hair sticks to the back of my neck.

Luke stands with his feet wide and crosses his arms. “Jett and Henderson are cool. Tilly can be an asshole, and Holly is a talker. I’m surprised you’re still coherent after spending most of the time listening to her gab. What was she talking about?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Was it that bad?”

“Not necessarily, but hearing of past lovers isn’t exactly what I have in mind when I first meet someone.”

“Tilly mentioned she was into girls before him. Was that what she was talking about?”

“Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. Would you like a chicken dinner or something more scandalous?”

“Considering I just ate, I’ll nix the chicken dinner,” he jokes back, his eyes narrowing lustfully. “As for the something a little more scandalous, it depends on what we’re talking about.”

I curve my lips into my mouth and blush because I’m so not used to Luke flirting with me. I’m used to his callous nature, to the insults he packs into tiny paper balls and spits at me.

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, noting the jealousy that grips the muscle in my chest when I think of the server again. Why do I care if Luke is attracted to another female? I can’t be that naive to think he hasn’t been with anyone else since me. I should walk away. Get in my car, put it in reverse, and drive away while things are good between us.

But it’s not every day Luke looks at me with kindness, no matter how reserved it might be. It’s also been so damn long since he’s flirted with me, and I remembered what it felt like to have him consider me as an option, as someone he’s attracted to, rather than a liar who runs when the going gets tough.

Like I said before—stupid.

When I could easily end the night on a good note, my ego demands more of me, and it’s the exact reason I say, “What about the waitress?”

He angles his head and acknowledges the question with a dip of his chin. “I guess you could say she fit the bill for a guy.”

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