Page 125 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
I need someone to treat me like I’m worth more than a fleeting moment.
A fleeting moment. She has no idea how many times a day she’s in my head.
Fleeting? That’s not the word I’d use.
“Still got the itch?” Dean struts toward me.
He’s all swagger with his oversized belt buckle and scuffed boots. His hand moves to his hat, tipping it back with a kind of arrogance that makes me want to knock it off: typical butcher, all grit with a bit of flair.
Levi elbows his side. “C’mon, we agreed to at least say good morning before we really dig into him.”
Dean stops in front of me and grins, slowly saying, “Good morning, Hart.”
His eyes drift south and then flicker back to me with the silent acknowledgment that he got an earful of yesterday’s incident.
How much did she share?
That I fell in the ditch with fire ants, and she fell on top of me? How about how I hauled her up and saved her from most of the aftermath I’m suffering today?
Or did she stick to what looked good for her?
That the ants went psycho on my testicles and she hand-picked them off my naked ballsack? Did she include the fact that I was rock hard by the time she stepped away, and did she toss in a pervert jab?
I won’t be surprised if she twisted all of it into a kinky story I’ll never live down.
Good Lord, I hope a woman doesn’t unleash fire ants on me behind closed doors.
“Piss off.” With an annoyed grunt, I let the folded plastic table I unloaded from the bus fall to the ground, not caring where or how it lands.
“Help me with this tent, would ya?” Wyatt slugs the white bag over his shoulder.
“If Hartcanhelp,” Dean jabs. “How are you feeling, bud?” His tone feigns concern. “How are the lil’ guys feeling?”
“I’m fucking fine.”
That’s a lie.
I’m pitted inside.
The fire ants are nothing compared to playing the part of the asshole, acting like I don’t care, shutting off my feelings, and then hearing Jade call me out. Hearing her believe she was justanother notch on my belt, and that I used her for sex like it was some kind of game.
I know that’s how I made it look.
Fuck, I know.
And I was living with that until she said it to my face and made it real.
“Ignore him.” Levi’s hand lands on my shoulder in an attempt to cool me down, and just like that, the itching flares up.
I nearly emptied the lotion bottle last night, and now I’m thinking I should’ve rationed it.
“No one ignores me.” Dean smiles, showing all his white teeth. “I’m a delight.”
“I’m ignoring you right now.” I stroll to where Wyatt is unzipping the tent bag.
“Are you, though?” There’s his toothy smirk again.
We wrestle with the tent frame, stretching it wide while avoiding pinched fingers. When we’re done, Levi ensures our tent fits snug against the Foxes’ tent wall, which is zipped up tight.
