Page 27 of Fight for You (Flirting with Forever 2)

With that, I turn off my phone. I don’t want to hear his response. I just can’t right now.

It’s a relief to find some of my friends at the bar a few hours later because I was going to feel really pathetic drinking alone. When I approach Madison and Piper, who are seated across from Shawn while he works, I have to smile, despite my sour mood. I think it’s super sweet that Madison keeps him company most nights now that they are together. He’s such a good guy. And he’s all hers.

And then there’s Sawyer … who is Willow’s? I want to cry. I’m just so damn stupid sometimes. He’d gone rushing off to save the day for her, without even a backward look at me—me, the one his lips had just been all over. Because why? Oh, right. He lives with her. He’s with her. He’d answered all the questions I hadn’t asked by rushing off to her rescue.

Shawn nods at me as I walk up to them. “What’s up, Had?”

“I could use a drink. Then maybe I can bring myself to tell you guys.” I slide onto the cracked-leather seat of the stool next to Madison, my shoulders slumping. I feel absolutely dejected. I don’t understand how other people seem to find such nice guys when all I find are jerks. With an agitated sigh, I shove all of it aside. I don’t want to spend another minute thinking about him or what a dating dummy I am.

“Fair enough.”

Piper, who’s on Madison’s other side, leans forward so she can see me. “The talk didn’t go like you wanted?”

Madison casts a furtive look in Piper’s direction and puts a careful hand to my back, giving me a little rub. “Shawn, get this woman one of your margaritas.”

I give Madison a weak smile. “No. No, it didn’t. I don’t want to talk about it just yet. Shawn, make it a strong one like that time we all got drunk before Christmas. I could really use it tonight.”

He shakes his head a bit. “Why does everyone think I adjust the margarita to your need level? I make them the same every damn time.” I see Madison shoot him a look out of the corner of my eye, and he continues. “But, yep, I’m on it. One Shawn’s Signature Margarita coming up.”

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Once he sets it in front of me with a kind smile, I down half of it in one go. Shawn’s brows hit his hairline, but he very wisely says nothing. Smart man Madison has chosen. Smart. I play with the condensation on the side of the glass while I go through the whole day in my head. Because, yeah. I can’t help myself. I swear, sometimes I think I just like to torture myself. Honestly, it had started out okay. It wasn’t until that last little bit that everything turned upside down. That’s it! I need to focus on something else.

Peeved with myself for my inability to stop thinking about Sawyer, I glance at Madison. “How are things in the library since we’ve been back?”

She

snorts. “Quiet. As usual. Though I did catch a couple of kids making out in the study room yesterday. That was interesting.” She takes a sip of the wine she has in front of her.

“For real. That room needs an open-door policy. Or a glass window.” I snort a little, then polish off the remainder of my margarita and ask for another.

To everyone’s credit, they allow me to sit in silence for a few minutes while conversation continues to flow around me and I work on my second drink of the night. With the alcohol starting to take effect, I actually enjoy the pleasant lightness buzzing through my head. Unfortunately for me, that means my lips begin to loosen. Sharing what’s wrong had seemed like a bad idea when I’d first sat down, and I’d planned on just sitting here and fretting about it in silence, but now? All bets are off. I slap the bar with my open palm. “So, you know what happened first today?” I lick salt off my lower lip and take another sip of my margarita.

Piper stifles a giggle. “Well, I think I do because I’m pretty sure I was there for the conversation you are referring to, but go ahead and tell them.”

“Had, what happened?” Madison rubs my back again.

Ugh. “Sawyer found our smutty book club book in my bag.”

Shawn lets out a bark of laughter, but quickly stops when he sees my face, smothering his amusement behind his hand.

Madison cringes. “It’s some book, I’ll admit that. What was he doing in your bag in the first place?”

“I asked him to get me my wallet. For the cookies.” I pout a little. “I didn’t realize the book was right underneath my wallet.”

“Cookies?” Madison’s brow creases. “Oh. Right. The Girl Scouts. I got hit up yesterday.”

“Yep. The Thin Mints. They get me every time.” Uh-oh. I can’t feel my lips. I poke at them absentmindedly.

My gaze lands on Shawn. I can just tell he has something to say. “Go ahead, Shawn. Impart your bartender's wisdom on me.”

He sucks both lips into his mouth as he pours a beer for another customer. “I guess maybe you should choose a nonfiction book next time and keep yourself out of trouble.”

“But I like my smut,” I growl.

Piper just shakes her head while Madison laughs. “That you do. And there’s nothing wrong with it. Except when someone finds it in your bag at school, I guess. Maybe you should get an e-book reader, or something.”

My eyes widen in tipsy shock. “That’s what Sawyer said. How did you know?”

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