Page 95 of The Even Odder Couple

My shoulders tense. The whole time I lived with these guys—since day one—I avoided conflict. Over stupid stuff. And big stuff. Especially with Troy. I always kept the peace. So I’m at least partly to blame for them not taking me seriously. But that ends now. “You’re not hearing me, man,” I say.

Troy cups his ear. “Huh?”

My eyes flash, and a ribbon of anger coils around my gut, but I know from experience, lashing out isn’t the best way to get to Troy. So I go for the cutting joke instead. “What’s wrong, man? Afraid you can’t have a good time without me?”

He arches a brow. “I think it’s the other way around, friend.”

We stare each other down for a beat, and a swell of possessiveness rises in me. I make a move toward Tess. Just an inch. Boundaries set. “Believe me. I’m all good.”

I’m still deciding the best way to send these guys packing, when Tess beats me to the punch. “I like surprises as much as the next person,” she says. “But I can’t let Spencer go.” She shifts her weight. “I need him.”

Whoa. A tide of protectiveness washes over me when I hear her sayI need him. But I won’t let Tess be the bad guy here. Staying is my choice. I’ve got to shut this down.

“Sorry your detour isn’t working out the way you expected,” I say. “But this kidnapping’s officially off.” I widen my stance and square my shoulders. “At least we got to see each other for a minute. But the bad news is I’m already running late for one of my other two jobs.” I hope the clench in my jaw shows I mean what I’m saying. “I’ll catch you all next time.”

Unless Troy can’t make it. That would be just fine by me.

Milo nods. “I hear you, Spence. Didn’t mean any harm, showing up. Just shooting our shot, you know?”

“I do.” I nod.

“Love you, man.”

“Same.”

“Wait,” Caden says, glancing at Troy and Milo. “Maybe we could hang around town a couple hours and see Spence after he’s done with work. For a drink or something?” He turns to me. “What time are you off today?”

“I’m not.” And here comes another involuntary caveman puff of my chest. “After I help my brother out at his place, I’ve got to come back here to work the community barbecue.”

Great. Even as the words escape my mouth, I know these guys are hearing an invitation.

“Community barbecue?” Milo crows. “We’re in!” He shifts his gaze over to Tess. “That is, if it’s all right with you. What time does the grill fire up?”

“Six o’clock,” she says. “And you all are welcome to come, if staying later won’t put you too behind schedule.”

“Oh, no,” Caden says. “We’ve got time.” His nose perks up, and he sniffs the air. The smell of bacon wafts over us. Clive must be getting breakfast started. I don’t want anyone getting any bright ideas about sticking around to eat here after I leave for the car wash. So I slap an arm over Caden’s shoulder. “Let me walk you all out. I can point you in the direction of The Local Yolk. They’ve got great omelets. Good people. You’ll love the place. Especially you, Caden.”

As Milo, Caden, and I start to head out, I look over my shoulder at Troy. He hangs back, swaggering up to Tess. “So I guess we’ll catch you at the barbecue too, huh, sweetheart?” She moves away as quickly as he comes toward her. And even though it’s clear she’s taking care of herself, I want to rip the swagger right out of him.

Would that be wrong?

“Troy,” I bark. “Let’s go, man.”

When he doesn’t acknowledge me at all, I jog the few steps back to him and Tess. With his focus still on her, Troy reaches out to—I don’t know what—shake her hand? Stroke her hair? Feel her cheek?—it doesn’t matter. This ends now. I grab his wrist.

Hard.

My hand ropes all the way around, and I have to stop myself from crunching bone. Then I yank his arm up and away from Tess before he can touch her. Troy doesn’t get to touch her.

“Hey, man. Calm down. I’m not messing with your girl.”

Yeah. Not this time.

“Her name is Tess,” I growl. “And she’s not my girl. Or your sweetheart.”

“Look out!” Milo hoots. “Spencer’s got some biceps hiding under his shirt. Man. It reallyhasbeen a long time.”

I release Troy’s wrist, and he throws his hands up, like a criminal pleading guilty. Or a prisoner begging for mercy. Either way, it’s satisfying. So is the look on Tess’s face when I turn to check on her. “You all right?”

She locks eyes with me, nodding. The green of her irises flash bright and warm. Her pupils are black and dilated. “I’m fine.” She tips her chin up. Swallows. But her voice still comes out throaty. “I’ll see you later?”

“You will.” Something stirs inside me. A low rattle and a thrum. Whatever this feeling is, I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. And as I walk my former roommates to their car and watch them drive off in a cloud of dust, I realize I’ve crossed a line there’s no coming back from.

I want Tess McCoy to be mine.

I want to be hers.

No matter what.

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