Page 68 of Between Now and Forever
“Well, if it isn’t Lark Johnston.” Heath stands and shakes Lark’s hand. “It’s been a long time, buddy. How have you been?”
“Hanging in there,” Lark says.
“Lark, this is my friend Bryant.”
Bryant nods at Lark. “Nice to meet ya.”
“Same,” Lark says, flipping his gaze to mine. There’s a twinkle in his eye that tickles my curiosity. “And who are you?”
“Babe, this is my new neighbor, Gabby,” Della says. “Gabby, this is Lark.”
“Babe”? Interesting.
Lark’s grin is cheeky. “It’s nice to meet you, Gabby.” He and Della exchange a look that I can’t quite read.
Lark sits next to Della. He wastes no time pulling her into his side and whispering something in her ear. She gazes up at him and winks, making him laugh.
My stomach tightens, although I’m unsure why. Everything is going well, and my tablemates are chatting away like old friends.Why do I feel like I’m on the ledge, waiting to fall?
“So,” Bryant says, casually, “are you single?”
“Yes.”
“Great.”
“But,”I say, holding a finger between us, “I’m not here to pick up a guy.”
Even though that’s exactly why I was here originally.
“That’s fine,” he says. “You don’t have to pick me up. I’ll pickyouup.”
“You’re cute.”
He scoots closer, his body rippling with energy. “I’m a lot more than cute. Give me a chance.”
I force a swallow and lean back, trying to get a grip on the chaos inside me. Luckily, I’m saved from responding when Lark speaks loudly.
“There he is,” Lark says, looking over his shoulder. “I was afraid you got lost.”
“It’s Jay Fucking Stetson,” Heath says, laughing. “Hell, brother. I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Say what?The room begins to spin.Did he just say Jay Stetson?
My gaze whips to Della’s. She grins, shrugging.
I close my eyes.
“Are you all right, mama?” Bryant asks.
This is bad. This is so, so bad.
I open my eyes and am immediately clobbered by a blaze of heat from the side.
“Do you know Bryant Shoals?” Lark asks. “And that is Gabby, a friend of Della’s.”
Fuck. My. Life.
“Nice to meet you, Jay,” Bryant says, still angled my way.
