Page 34 of Fluke
“Can I ask what the hell that was all about?” he asks. “Not that I mind that we were married, Dream Girl.”
I give him a look that makes him chuckle.
“You two are entirely adorable,” Kerissa says, her arms crossed over her chest. “And if I didn’t know better, I’d think there was something going on between you.”
My cheeks heat.
“I’m getting closer,” Jess says, bumping my shoulder with his. “I’ve asked her out a million times. Somehow, we jumped over dating and marriage and went right to divorce, but I can work my way back.”
I laugh, relief washing through me. It’s as if a bomb has been defused, and it’s just my friends and me again.
“Thank you for jumping in like that,” I tell Jess. “How did you know what was going on?”
He folds his hands on the table. His fingers are thick, his wrists wide. The veins in his forearms are roped, and if you could sell pictures of forearm porn, his would be worth a fortune.
“Your back was to me, but Kerissa caught my eye,” he says, nodding athank youto her. “I really didn’t like the way he was looking at you, so I came to … you know, say hello.”
My heart skips a beat.
“I heard him call you a liar and say something about there being no ex-husband …” Jess shrugs. “I just made it clear that he better back the fuck off and then took your lead.”
“You had perfect timing because it was about to turn ugly.”
He grins. “For the record, I didn’t come to your rescue. I’m sure you could’ve handled it like the boss you are. But I couldn’t stand by and watch someone bother my ex-wife like that. What kind of ex-husband would I be?”
I burst out laughing, the sound releasing whatever tension remains in my body.
Kerissa pushes away from the table. “I’m going to let you two chat and go mingle with the people.”
“If you see Moss, will you let him know I’m up here?” Jess asks.
Kerissa grins. “Will do.”
Jess watches her leave. Once she disappears down the stairs, he faces me again.
My lord, those eyes.
“I kind of just grabbed hold of you around the waist, and I apologize if that was not cool,” he says. “I should’ve probably—”
“Hey, it was fine. Honest. I’m … glad that you did it.”
He grins. “Okay. Good. It was instinct, I guess, but that doesn’t make it right.”
“Look, that conversation was heading in a bad direction. There’s a chance that I would’ve leaped into your arms and kissed you to prove a point if you hadn’t wrapped your arm around me.”
His eyes go wide.
“So thank you for saving me from apologizing to you.”
“Is there any way I can ask for a redo?”
I laugh again. This time, he laughs too.
“What was that all about?” he asks. “Why the weird need for an ex-husband? I’m confused.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time.”
