Page 132 of Run Away Home: Tempered

“Oh, uhm... No.”

“Yes, she is. You just said so.”

“It was a short go. Hardly a relationship.”

“I guess that explains why she’s not your sister. Because you fuck her?”

“No, not anymore. Only a couple of times. I could count them on my hands—on one hand, actually! Wasn’t even good sex. Let me tell you, it wassoboring. She’ssoboring at sex. I didn’t enjoy it at all. That’s why I had to break up with her.”

“Oh my God!” I fold my arms. “I don’t want to hear this. And also, I don’t care if it was the worst sex in the world. You told me you were just friends!”

“We are friends...now.”

“You left out the ‘now’ part!”

“It’s not like you and I are in a serious relationship, Kara. Calm down.”

“Hold on. We’re not in a serious relationship? I’m very confused right now.”

“You are? I mean...are we an item? We can be.”

“I am not going any farther with this until you prove to me that you can stop all the drinking and start telling me the full truth about everything!”

“Good luck with that. Anyway, do you want Greek food? I’m really craving spinach pie. You came over here to eat lunch, right?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

He cracks up and throws his head back. “I don’t understand the question.”

“After we left the restaurant last week, you were adamant that we were a couple, and we were going to be together forever. It was very sweet, actually. I thought you really meant it, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe you just wanted to get into bed with me, and you were just really, really,reallydrunk—as usual.Sloshed. Now, I’m here, I’m trying to talk to you about this, and you’re talking about food.”

“Huh. I said all that? I’m sorry, I don’t remember it at all.”

“You’re unbelievable!” I grab my purse and head to the door.

“Kara!” He runs after me.

“What? What do you want? I never should have hooked up with some random bartender. That was just me asking for trouble!”

“I really like you. I’ll be better. I’m sorry. Look, I won’t drink anything else the rest of the day, and I’ll mean everything I say. Will you please stay?”

I take a long hard look at him. Why does he have to be so adorable? His smile. His eyes...

“I’ll stay, but I want Italian food, not Greek.” I put my purse back down on the couch.

“Done,” he says. “Anything for my...girlfriend.” He does a sarcastic little half smile and bites his lip.

“Nope. Not girlfriend.”

“Girl...pal?”

“Pour the beer down the drain, and I’ll consider ‘girl pal.’”

“Okay. I’ll grab the menu for Bianca’s while I’m at it.” He walks away.

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