Page 91 of A Little Broken

“Why? So I can clean up after everyone?”

“If it’ll get you here?—”

With a laugh, I gently tug out his grasp. “I’m good, thanks. But, uh, speaking of cleaning, I should probably get back to work.”

“Tate—”

“I’m a size six,” I add. “And a 34D. You know, for the maid outfit since you insist I put the ladies away.”

I give him my back and head down the stairs to the kitchen.

27

PAXTON

“What’s wrong?” Dodger demands.

I asked him to meet me at The Pelican after Tatum left for the day, and he agreed. Not gonna lie. I was hoping it would help me get my head on straight, although it seems like it hasn’t done shit.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, I clear my throat and answer, “What?”

“I said, what’s wrong?” he repeats, eyeing me carefully. “You’re quiet.”

I hesitate, thumbing the label on my bottle as I replay my conversation with Tate before she disappeared to the kitchen. “Remember Tate?”

“Huh?”

“Tatum,” I clarify. “Your family friend’s…cousin or whatever.”

Recognition flashes in his eyes. “Tater Tot. Yeah. Why?”

I pause, knowing Tate will kill me for sharing anything about her with anyone, let alone the guy in front of me, but I don’t know where else to turn. If she won’t let me go to the source and answer my questions herself, I have to go to the next best thing.

“She’s here,” I say.

Dodger looks around the dim bar. “Here?”

“Nothere,” I tell him. “I mean in town.”

Settling back into his seat, he shakes his head. “How? When?”

“Ran into her at a bonfire a little while ago, then she showed up at my place, and?—”

“What do you mean, she showed up at your place?” he demands.

“It’s a long story,” I grumble. “Turns out she works for me, though. Cleans my house,” I add. “Do you know if she was ever engaged?”

“Nah, not that I know of. Her family is more of a…friend of a friend kind of thing, though, so I’m not sure. Rory’s the one my family’s close with.”

I nod slowly.

“Whatever happened with you and her, anyway?” Dodger prods.

“We hooked up, then she told me she was engaged and not to contact her.”

“No shit?” He laughs. “Fuck, I didn’t know she got married.”

“She didn’t,” I mutter.

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