Page 17 of The Reading

“Collette Ringer,” he said as he took his seat. “A twenty-four-year-old dental hygienist that is one-eighth Irish.” I snorted. “She’s out with her friends, celebrating her heritage, and she’s single.”

“Good for Collette.” I finished off my beer, then signaled for another one. “What else did you guys talk about?”

“Not much,” he replied. “I got all that on my way to the restrooms.”

I looked over at him as the bartender put a new drink in front of me. “And what did you get on your way back?”

His silver eyes flared a little, but before I could think on what that could mean, he said, “I learned that she was opened to taking our conversation to a more private setting.”

Green really was a crappy color.

“Oh, well…that’s subtle.”

“She’s not shy, that’s for sure.”

Even though I knew that it sounded shitty, I said, “Well, don’t let me keep you. She’s pretty, and you might not get a better offer later on.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” he hissed, and that got my attention.

“What?”

Reign leaned in closer, causing my stomach to flutter like a flock of birds. “I’m sitting here, having beers withyou,but you have no problem with me just walking off with some random chick?”

My eyes darted back towards the blonde, and she was looking at us. “It’s not like we arrived together, Reign,” I pointed out. “We just happened to end up at the same bar close to work.” I looked away from the blonde, then back at Reign. “We’re not…not…”

“What?” he asked. “We’re not, what?”

“Heretogether,”I finished lamely.

“Well, that’s a shame,” he bit out before taking another long drink of his green beer. “Because I told the blonde that you were my girlfriend, so she’s probably going to think that we’re fighting because you’re an insecure, jealous, bitter harpy.”

I choked on my beer.

Reign started patting me on my back, but he wasn’t helping. My eyes were watering, and I was gasping for air like a fool, but that was the least of my problems.

Girlfriend??

When I finally got myself under control, I just gawked at him. “You told her that I was your girlfriend?”

“My wife would have been reaching since we don’t have any wedding rings on,” he replied calmly, and I could feel my thighs clench at the thought.

They were also clenching with the idea ofotherthoughts.

*****

Reign~

Iwas done with St. Patrick’s Day. I was done with the green beer. I was done with looking for someone to get my dick wet. I was done with the whole goddamn scene.

I was also done with Sloane Vicious, and her bullshit.

“Reign-”

“So, are you going to sit here and act like a jealous girlfriend, or are you going to follow me into the restrooms and show the blonde why she’s not a threat to you?”

Fuck it.

Sloane’s blue eyes widened.“What?”she hissed quietly, her eyes darting around like we were divulging government secrets.

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