Page 44 of Kyle

Sutton rolls her eyes. “That’s not how it works.”

“Don’t bother trying to explain it to him, Sutton. He’s yankin’ my chain.”

“Oh.” She turns to Green. “His food is very good, you know.”

“I do know. I ate a bunch at the picnic.” He looks at me. “I told ya I liked it, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, Green. You did.”

“What’s goin’ on?” TJ asks, walking up.

“Kyle’s collecting forks,” Green replies.

TJ glances over at me. “The fork lady come try your food?”

“Sutton thinks she saw her today. I’m not so sure it was her,” I say.

“It was her,” she insists.

I order us a couple of beers, and Sutton checks her phone.

“Nothing yet. She usually posts her daily reviews by nine.”

Cole, Crash, and TJ walk over and take a stool at the bar.

“What are you boys up to?” Crash asks.

Green lifts his chin to me. “Kyle and Sutton just got here.” He slides a fork across the bar to Crash. “Here. Give him a fork.”

Crash frowns at me. “Is he high?”

I shrug. “He’s just being Green.”

“What the fuck’s he talking about?” Cole asks.

“Never mind. It’s a stupid joke,” TJ tells his ol’ man.

Green points a fork at me. “Hey. My jokes are never stupid.”

The prospect behind the bar carries over two long necks, and I tilt mine up. Sutton continues to check her phone.

I shake my head. “Don’t waste all night on that.”

“I can’t help it. I have to know.”

I lock eyes with TJ. “Heard from Brayden lately?”

“He talked to Ma a couple of days ago. She said he sounded happy.” TJ gets a beer. “He texted me last week. I think hemisses Cali, but he loves that girl too much to drag her from her home and family. He’ll stick it out.”

“Any plans to come home for a visit?” I rest a hand on the bar top and turn to talk to him.

TJ shrugs. “Maybe over the summer.”

Marcus and Brandy, and Billy and Melissa walk in, followed by my brother.

The girls hug Sutton.

“Hey, girl,” Melissa says, then looks at me. “Did you guys work today?”

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