Page 22 of Fixing to Be Mine

She taps her glass to mine. “All of the above.”

We knock them back, and it burns more than I remembered. She doesn’t blink, just refills both glasses with a practiced flick of her wrist.

“One’s never enough,” she says, and there’s something in her voice that’s playful.

I follow her lead, but she doesn’t have to ask twice.

“Can I ask you something?” She lifts her second shot.

“You can ask me anything, anytime,” I say, leaning into the counter like I want her closer—because I do.

“How old are you?”

That makes me smile. “Twenty-eight.”

Her lips twitch like she’s holding something back. “That explains a lot.”

“Does it?”

Her teeth catch her bottom lip, and it takes everything in me not to reach for her.

“Yeah. The cooking. The muscles. The confidence. All classic signs of a man in his late twenties with too much charm and not enough fear.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Her eyes drag over me, and there is no hesitation or hiding it this time. “You’re too young.”

“For you?” I ask, even though I already know.

She flushes, but doesn’t look away.

I step a little closer. Not enough to crowd her, but enough to let her feel it. “I’m old enough to teach you a thing or two.”

“You’re too much to handle.”

I feel her breath catch before I hear it. She doesn’t move back or blink.

“Then find less,” I say, shooting her a wink, and we down that shot of tequila.

“Oh, trust me, I have.” The words land sharp, like a knife in wood. Her eyes flick away for the first time since we started drinking. “Shitty exes.”

“I figured. I have a few of those myself,” I say, gentler now, but I don’t press.

She doesn’t need to explain, unless she wants to. I don’t give a shit about her past relationships.

She grabs the bottle like she’s ready to steer it somewhere lighter.

“How old are you?” I ask.

“Thirty-four,” she says.

I let out a low chuckle and shake my head.

“What?” she asks.

“You’re worried about six years?” I lean in. “You acted like you were my mother’s age and I was a toddler.”

She blinks. “I don’t date anyone who doesn’t have a three or above in their age.”

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