Page 56 of Heart & Hope

I pay her no heed, as the bartender uncorks a new bottle of something deep maroon. The liquid glugs into the glasses, one after the other. When he turns back and sets them down, I grab my purse.

“Fifty-eight,” he says, keeping eye contact.

I tap the card on the machine as he holds it out.

“Fifty-eight for two glasses. That’s some serious gasoline, girl.” Starr snickers.

Now, I turn to them and close the space between me and the two dolled-up patriotic Barbies. “You’rehuntingReed Rawlins?”

“You seen him out tonight?” Skye says, her eyes narrowing as if I’m the fucking competition.

“Answer the question, please.”

“Yeah, we’re hunting him, and whatever else we wanna do with him. He’s more than willing with any girl that shows interest. All’s fair in lovin’ and whatever.”

The anger that flooded my core earlier turns to lava in my veins. “Is that so?”

“You can have him after we do,” Starr says with a wink.

I suck in a breath and briefly close my eyes. How fuckingdarethey.

I fling the glasses toward them. The wine hits their stupid faces a second later, running down their white tops and soaking into their skimpy threadbare short shorts, everything it douses staining red as I step forward. “You are disgusting.”

“Urgh, you bitch!” Starr shrieks.

“Stop embarrassing yourselves and stay the hell away from Reed.” I step closer, ensuring my heels are clear of the spilled wine as she wipes the red wine from her eyes, and snag her attention. “Understand?”

“Fuck you,” Skye spits as she stands, arms out, wine dripping from her top, streaking its way down her bare legs.

“Little slow on the uptake, I see. That is the last thing you want to do. Have a good night, ladies.”

I stride slowly back to Addy, who is now standing by the table, holding her bag. Yeah, we’re leaving. But, holy fuck, there is no other way that could have gone down. Reed may drown his sorrows in female company. But it will always behischoice. Not some deranged team bully mission. Being hunted like fucking prey.

I push through the doors and suck in the cool night air. Addy bursts out laughing, doubling over as she does. I scoff a laugh at her. When she recovers and wraps an arm around me, she gives me a side look and head tilt.

“Oh, Rubes. You are so gone, girl.”

“I am not!” I let my mouth gape. I can’t stand people with loose morals, let alone straight up loose. If sex isn’t practical, it should be meaningful. Not some conquest, or whatever those two bimbos called it. And the thought of those two anywhere near Reed makes my skin crawl and nausea roil in my belly.

Addy stands in front of me and puts both of her hands on my shoulders. “You know I love you like a sister, right?”

“Yes?”

“Ruby Jane Robbins, you have a thing for Reed Rawlins.”

“No.” I shake my head, but even the gesture is a lie. “I can’t, Adds. I have to go back to the city.”

“You can’t, or you won’t?”

I step backward until the building meets my back. I hang my head and close my eyes.

Breathe in.

I don’t date.

We are just friends.

Rules . . .

---