Page 55 of The Manny

“No. Nobody’s feelings were hurt.”

Except maybe Roy’s?

“So, you and Aiden are free to sleep with anyone you want to?”

“Of course.” Why was that so odd to him? Didn’t he sleep with whoever he wanted? Didn’t all single people do that?

“I’d never put up with that,” he said softly. “What’s mine is mine. I don’t share.”

I frowned, slowly catching on he had the wrong idea about me and Aiden. “You do realize Aiden and I are just friends, right?”

“Mia implied you were more.”

“Oh, well she’s a kid.”

“But this was a date, right?”

I grimaced. “It started out that way.”

“What does that mean?”

I sighed. “It doesn’t matter.” I didn’t feel right sharing Aiden’s personal stuff. If he and Barb reconciled, then that would be fine. But right now, they were in a gray area. If it all fell through with his ex, I didn’t want the whole town knowing he’d wanted her back. That was his business.

“Do you two have one of those open relationships?”

“You have the wrong idea, seriously. Mia made it sound like more than it is.”

“Huh.” He watched me intently. “So then, if I was to kiss you, there would be no problem? No one would get mad?”

I gave a sharp intake of breath and my pulse skipped alarmingly. “You… you want to kiss me?”

He ran his tongue over his lower lip. “I kind of do, yeah.”

“Since when?”

“I don’t know. I found you attractive the first day we met, but you pissed me off so much, I pushed it away.”

“Yeah, butting heads seems to be our thing.”

“We’ve been getting along better though.”

“True.” I swallowed hard. “Well, I’m definitely okay with kissing.”

“Are you?” He gave a funny little smile.

“Yeah. I want to.” I grimaced. “Of course, I might regret being so impulsive once I sober up.”

“It’s just a kiss, right?” He lifted one shoulder dismissively. “If Aiden is too dumb to keep you to himself, he gets what he deserves.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

His gaze flickered. “But you’re sexually attracted to him?”

“He’s a good-looking guy.”

Scowling, he said, “I’ve never met this clown, so I don’t know what he’s like.”

“He’s not a clown. He’s great. He’s a good father to Percy.”

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