Page 94 of Swept for Forever
She leaned into it.
“And who might that guy be?” I asked, my gaze flicking toward the one still stealing glances at us.
“That’s Jimmy, and that’s his girlfriend Julia.”
“Jimmy,” I repeated, watching him stiffen when our eyes met. “You two had history?”
Autumn’s lips twitched. “Dom, are you jealous?”
“No.” I gave her a look. “I just want to know why he looksbitey.”
She snorted. “Bitey?”
“He’s about to gnash his teeth.”
She leaned back, shaking her head. “Well, he’s an ex.”
“Huh! So therewasa sturgeon.”
She snorted. “We broke up right before my hike that day. He stood me up.”
I raised a brow. “Bottom-feeding. Ancient.”
“A little salty,” she completed it.
“Otter, standing you up was a little more than salty! It was fermented seaweed rude.”
Autumn clapped a hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh. “Dom, that’s vile.”
I took a sip of wine. “But accurate.”
I gave the sturgeon another look. Okay, so he didn’t actually look like one. But I’d figured Autumn might’ve once gone for a golden boy with broad shoulders and biceps for days, and I hadn’t been wrong. The traps were there. The shine too. Just…there was no class.
“Want me to go teach him some manners?”
She reached for my hand, her eyes crinkling. “I’m over it, I swear. Zen as a monk now.”
I smirked. “He obviously isn’t.”
“Because he knows I’ve traded up,” she said wickedly.
“So you said you two go to college together?”
She smiled. “Didn’t know I had a thing for jealous guys. But you make it feel kinda good.”
“Hey, I’m just being thorough.”
“Fine. Yes. Same college. He’s a Psych major, I’m in Phys Ed.”
“Physical education? Phew! I’d be lucky to be in your class,” Dom said.
“At least I’ll be teaching the real thing.” She tapped her temple. “Physical’s just the label.”
“Mind over matter, huh?”
“Yep. Trusting yourself is a big part of it. And sometimes that means trusting a stranger. It doesn’t always end in tragedy despite what everyone thinks,” she quipped.
“You’ll make a hell of a teacher,” I said. “Or coach.”
