Page 53 of Feast

Her look of avid curiosity morphed into a scowl. “Why not?”

“It’s not something you can teach,” he said, amused. She was cute when she was pissed. “You can do it, or you can’t.”

“Rude,” she muttered into her beer.

“Blame genetics,” he advised and closed his eyes again.

“If you’re going to sleep, can I find something to watch on TV?”

“I’m not going to sleep, but help yourself,” he said and picking up the remote, tossed it in her direction.

“Ow!” she exclaimed. “That hit my head.”

He had to fight not to smile. “Could’ve been worse. Could’ve hit your beer.”

“Just for that, I’m watching HGTV.”

This time he couldn’t quite fight back the smile.

Maddie was polishingoff her second piece of pizza when Spence’s eyes fluttered open.

“You know,” she began, licking sauce from her fingers, “that’s the second time you’ve fallen asleep on me. I’m starting to get a complex.”

He sat up, blinking rapidly. “How long was I out?”

“About an hour.”

“Shit.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry.”

“No worries. Want some pizza?”

He stared down at the open box on the cushion between them. “Yeah. What do I owe you for it?”

“My treat.” She plucked a breadstick from the box.

He pulled a slice from the box. “I can pay for half.”

“You bought room service in Vegas,” she reminded him. “This way we’re even.”

He snorted. “Even? Do you have any idea how much that burger and fries cost?”

She just grinned and bit into her breadstick. “Eat. Your brain needs carbs.”

“Even, my ass,” he muttered and bit into his pizza.

Maddie watched him eat for a moment, nibbling on her breadstick until it was gone. “Can I ask you a question?”

He grunted around a mouthful of food, and she decided to take that as a yes.

“Do you regret it? Vegas,” she elaborated when he stared at her.

He swallowed. “No.”

“Oh,” she said and selected another breadstick.

“You don’t believe me.”

She shrugged. “Kind of seems like you do. Regret it, I mean.”

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