Page 170 of Stay With Me
“Have a magnificent day. See you soon…”
“Grant,” he supplies.
I hold out my hand, and he takes it. “Magnolia. Welcome to Sugarland Creek”
Before we can pull apart, Tripp’s hand comes between us. “And I’m the boyfriend.”
I grind down on my teeth to stop myself from causing a scene.
“Nice to meet y’all.” Grant nods, taking his items. “See ya later.”
“Bye now.” I wave before he walks across the street.
“Are you freakin’ kidding me?” I turn toward Tripp and whisper-shout.
“Do you have to flirt with every single guy when I’m here?”
“I’m beingnice, Tripp! It’s how I get tips. I know you’ve never worked in customer service, but this is literally part of the job.”
This is our third argument about it in three days.
“You’re more than just beingnice.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve never given any of them my number norhave they ever asked me out on a date. Even if they did, I wouldn’t have agreed to one.”
“So you leanin’ over the counter with your tits out is for tips?”
I glance down and take a moment to appreciate how good the girls look in my T-shirt. Though I’m wearing a fleece jacket, I didn’t zip it up because with two people in this small space, I get warm.
“Surprised you didn’t read about it in one of your baby apps, but breasts can double in size during pregnancy. I can’t help that. Blame the hormones.”
His eyes roll as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Are you tellin’ me you don’t flirt with the customers during cabin call? Just a little friendly ‘Howdy, sweetheart. How y’all doin’ today? Need me to carry those big, heavy bags for you with my massive muscles?’” I mimic in an exaggerated deep Southern accent.
He pops a brow. “You think I have massive muscles?”
“Oh my God!” I smack his chest, and before I can pull away, he grabs my wrist and yanks me closer.
“Sunny…” His warning tone sends shivers down my spine. “I don’t flirt with other women. Hell, I haven’t even looked at one since the moment you became mine. I know we’rejust friendsand roommates, but I have no interest in anyone but you. And before you say it, there is no movin’ on for me.” He shrugs helplessly. “There never was.”
Goddamn him.Doesn’t he know I’m an emotional and hormonal mess these days? It’s bad enough I had a full-on cry fest at my ultrasound appointment yesterday when we confirmed the baby was a girl.
And the day before that when we went to the sheriff’s office, I had to give a full statement about my phone call with Travis, and it had me in tears again just thinking about all the shit I’m dragging Tripp through.
Then again when I told my dad.
So it’s safe to say I’m tired of crying.
The morning sickness hasn’t been as bad in my second trimester, so that’s been a blessing, but the heartburn at night is killing me. She better come out with a full head of hair after this.
A throat clearing grabs our attention before I can respond to Tripp and find Landen staring at us with a shit-eating smirk.
“What’s a guy gotta do for some service ’round here?” he taunts.
“Show me your abs and dick,” I blurt, fully aware I’m adding fuel to the fire that’s Tripp’s patience level.
He pops a brow, amusement written all over his pretty boy face. “Is this a game ofI show you mine and you show me yours?”
