Page 79 of Forever To Me

Mason leans closer, his stupid white smile flashing in the low bar lights. His hand lands on her arm, and Violet doesn’t pull away. No. Shesmiles. Then they laugh again. And I'm trying not to come unglued.

My grip tightens on the glass I’m holding. I should probably stop before I smash it into oblivion, but I can’t.

“She looks like she’s having a good time,” Maggie says from across the bar. Her voice is casual, but I know better. Maggie loves stirring up trouble more than a raccoon loves a trash can.

I ignore her. I’m not taking the bait.

Next to her, Cami smirks into her wine glass. “She sure does,” she says. “Violet’s practically glowing.”

I clench my jaw.Glowing?What does that even mean? Shedoesn’t glow. She—okay, maybe she’s glowing a little. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes are sparkling, and—dammit—she’s flipping her hair.

This motherfucker needs to go.

“She does look happy, doesn’t she, Cami?” Maggie drawls, eyes dancing with amusement.

“Ecstatic,” Cami agrees, nodding sagely. “Maybe Mason’s her type.”

I snort. “Yeah, right.”

Maggie perks up. “Oh? And why’s that?”

I shift, wiping the same damn spot on the bar for the fiftieth time. “He’s...too polished.”

“Polished?” Cami chuckles. “Like he showers regularly? Dresses nice? Real deal-breakers there, bud.”

“He looks like he moisturizes.” I throw the rag down and grab a glass to polish instead.

Maggie’s eyebrows shoot up. “Moisturizes? Since when is that a crime?”

“Does Red go for guys like that?” I gesture toward Mason, who’s currently showing Violet something on his phone. She leans closer, and I swear my blood pressure spikes. “He probably irons his jeans.”

Cami chokes on her drink. Maggie bursts into laughter.

“Oh my God.” Maggie wipes her eyes. “Walker, you aresojealous.”

“I’mnotjealous,” I clip.

“Jealous as a rooster locked outside the henhouse,” Cami adds, grinning. Then she makes a rooster noise that makes me glare at her even more.

“I’mconcerned. She doesn’t know Mason like I do.”

“Right,” Maggie says, smirking. “Because you’re obviously just worried about her safety.”

“Exactly!” I point at her with the glass. “That guy’s toosmooth.”

Maggie arches an eyebrow. “You sure you’re not worried he’s got a littletoomuch charm?”

"Nope," I lie.

“Oh, sugar.” Maggie pats my hand. “Bless your heart.”

Cami's laugh turns into a snort. “You’ve been scowling for the last twenty minutes like Mason just stole your girl. Face it, man—you’re jealous. And the entire bar knows it.”

I glance around. Sure enough, half the regulars are sneaking looks my way and whispering. A couple of guys from the pool table actually give me an encouraging thumbs-up.

Fantastic.

I grit my teeth and turn back toward the bar. “It’s not jealousy. I’m just protective.”

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