That’s exactly the kind of thing I shouldn’t do, but I can’t keep standing here and she doesn’t seem inclined to listen to me when I tell her to go away.
“All right,” I say, formulating a new plan on the fly. “Is there somewhere near your house we could go to get one?”
Grimacing, she said, “Paul’s a regular at most of the bars.”
“Food?”
She pauses. “There’s a deli up the road.”
I remember it. I nod. “I know the place. I’ll meet you there tonight.”
“When?” Her eyes light with excitement and I feel both encouraged and apprehensive.
“Seven.” I miss half a beat. “Now, I need you to wipe that look off your face and look like I just pissed you off, let you down easy, but you didn’t take it well.”
She narrows her eyes as if annoyed, but there’s a trace of amusement there. “Really? I doubt you’re that good.”
I’m amused, but I don’t show it. “Just listen to me for once, huh?”
She nods too quickly, her lips pursing, like she just greeted me wearing Saran wrap and I didn’t even look. “All right. Fine. Be that way.”
I bite back a smile. Lance can’t see my face, but I don’t want to test her composure.
Then I reach out and pat her on the arm with a, “you’ll be okay.”
“Oh my God, I hate you,” she says, barely holding on. “Later I want the phone numbers of everyone you’ve ever dumped so I can personally apologize on your behalf.”
I don’t smile with my mouth, but I wink at her before I turn and head back to my post. As I do, I’m hit with a troubling flicker of excitement at the prospect of seeing her again, face-to-face.
My amusement quickly fades and I don’t look at Lance as I approach. I retrieve my gun and resume my position, tossing him a half smile and saying, “Thanks.”
He’s frowning. Always suspicious. Always assuming the worst. I understand the impulse, but it’s damned annoying when you’re on this side.
“What was that all about?” he asks, guarded.
I’m still not sure this is the best strategy, but it is the best way to make it clear she’s not special, I don’t care about her, and I’m damn sure not going to put my ass on the line for her.
“I fucked her,” I tell him simply.
The furrowing between his brow subsides and his bro-side wins out. “Aw, shit. She caught feelings?”
I shrug, like I collect one night stands. “Sometimes it happens. Can’t be helped.”
“Her though?” He shakes his head. “Damn, man.”
“I know, I know.” I smile a little self-deprecatingly. “Least we don’t have to worry about her coming around here again. Pretty sure she’d be too embarrassed.”
“How was she?” he asks, because he’s Lance.
I shrug as if unimpressed. “Eh.”
He laughs, delighted, also because he’s Lance.
He nods at the wrapped parcel in my hand, the one I’d forgotten about, preoccupied with coming up with a reason for her showing up. “What’s that?”
“Oh.” I look down at it, frown. “Apple turnover or something? I wasn’t totally listening.”
That’s a lie, but Lance is still pleased. His mother must not have loved him.