Maybe my reply is a little clipped, because he looks over at me. “I didn’t get a chance to say… I don’t want this to be weird, between us. I just figured, you know we haven’t even talked in years…”
I exhale. “I know.” I offer a genuine smile. “And I am OK with it. Well, the PDA is still kind of weird, but I’ll get used to it. As long as you treat her right,” I add. “Otherwise I’ll be duty-bound as big sister to kick your ass. And I know all about your weak knee,” I add.
“I will.” Jason smiles wider. “She knows what she wants, alright.”
“Yes, she does,” I agree. And somehow, Daisy always finds a way of getting it, too.
Maybe she has some pointers for me.
“The other night was pretty cool,” Jason adds, “You singing at the bar. You brought the house down.”
I wince. “It was nothing—” I start to protest, but he shakes his head.
“I mean it. You always loved it, too. I figured you’d grow up to be a cool indie music chick. If law school didn’t work out,” he adds.
“Well, looks like I’m oh-for-two,” I quip.
“Aw, c’mon,” Jason smiles. “You’re doing pretty well for yourself. Daisy never shuts up about how cool your life is, and that bar you work at.”
She does?
I don’t have time to ask before someone raps on the window outside. It’s Seb. I wave back and watch as he makes his way inside the diner, greeting everyone like an old friend on his way over to our table.
“Morning, sweetheart,” he says, dropping into the booth, and draping an arm around me. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“You mean, you checked the coffee shop, and this was the only other option?” I tease, and he smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I knew I’d find you near the caffeine. How’s it going?” he asks, finally acknowledging Jason.
“No complaints here. You know, if you want a great cup of coffee, you should try Honeybee, it’s just outside of town.”
“Wait, it’s still there?” I exclaim, laughing. “I thought Honey was pushing eighty by now.”
“Ninety-two.” Jason grins. “But they’ll pry that coffee-pot from her cold, dead hands.”
“Oh man, you remember the time we showed up at dawn?” I reminisce, “Just to get her first cruller—"
I’m cut off by a kiss. Seb slides his hand around the back of my head and angles my mouth to him, kissing me slowly and so thoroughly that I’m left gasping for air.
What in all that’s holy…?
“Sorry,” Seb leans back, looking supremely un-sorry. “I hadn’t kissed her yet today. You understand,” he adds, giving Jason a smug look.
Jason coughs. “Sure,” he says, clearly uncomfortable with the PDA.
And he’s not the only one, now that I realized why Seb was doing it. He was marking his territory.
“Ready to go?” I ask, putting down some cash for my breakfast. “We should hit the road if we’re going to get there for lunch.”
“Whatever my lady wants,” Seb announces. We get up, and he takes my hand, possessive. “See you, Justin.”
“It’s Jason.”
“Right. My mistake.”
I hold back an eyeroll until we’re outside. Then I yank my hand away. “What was that?” I demand.
“What?” Seb gives me an innocent look.