“Well!Now that you two are acquainted,” Robbie said, releasing her and nudging heragainst the back towards me. “She is my gift to you, my brother.”
Ilooked over Becca’s head to stare at him, disbelieving. “Uh, excuse me?”
“Iknow, it’sverygenerous of me, but I figured you needed—”
“Youcan’tgifta fucking person, Robbie.”
Beccashook her head, wrapping her fingers around my forearm. “Oh, nono. When he gave me the daisy, I specifically requestedyou, so it’s fine. He means no harm.”
SinceKylie left, Robbie had adopted the daisy tradition, utilizing it as aninvitation for one lucky girl in the crowd. I hated it.
Ipulled my arm from her grasp to stretch my thumb and pointer fingers over myeyes. “Oh my God …” Shaking my head, I dropped my hand and forced my mostsincere smile. “I’m sure he told you I’d be interested, but I’m sorry, I’m not.I’m married and—”
Robbiesnorted. “Okay, pal, you can drop the act. That bitch you called a wife hasn’tcalled you inweeks, man. Get the fuck over it and get your cock undersomeone else. Like Becca, here.”
Ignoringhim, I continued to smile at the hopeful young woman. “Can I call you a rideor—”
Cackling,Robbie dropped onto the couch beside Sebastian. “The only ride she wants isyou,dude! God, you’re so fucking dense, it’s almost adorable. Am I right, guys?He’s got that small-town idiot thing down pat.”
Tyshook his head. “Come on, Robbie. When are yougonnalearn to knock it off? You’re fucking exhausting.”
“I’msorry if I’m being a harsh motherfucker right now, but I need this guy to seethe world the way it is. It’s myjobto steer him in the rightdirection.”
Sebastianscoffed. “Seems it’s yourjobto be a pain in everybody’s dick. I’m justwaiting for you to fuck up enough to lose this job, like the rest of them.”
“Ah,Devin loves me too much, right, O’Leary?”
Lovewasn’t the word I would use to describe the way I felt for Robbie White. Iwasn’t sure I evenlikedhim at that point, but Ihavetoadmit, since Kylie left, he’d become a lot more tolerable. And he wasa great drinking partner on those nights when I couldn’t stand being alone.
Iconsidered that maybe he was right. Ithadbeen a month since I sawKylie, an entire month since I had watched her walk away, and I wondered if I’dever hear from her again. Was I really going to spend the rest of my lifealone? When I couldrevert backto my old ways andenjoy those casual encounters? The thought made me nauseous and I swallowedagainst the rise of whiskey in my throat. It was natural, I told myself; tohave a tough time moving on. But, how else was I supposed to, if I didn’t try?
Beccahad the eyes of a siren, dark and deadly. They settled on mine, drawing me in,as she asked, “Doyawannagrabsomethin’ to eat?”
Robbielaughed, slapping his knee. “I think she means her pussy.” His head hit theweathered bolster of the couch and he lifted his ass from the cushion to pull abag of a white, powdered substance from his pocket. “You kidswannatake a hit of this before you find a quiet place tobe alone?”
Thebile rose in my throat at the sight of the bag, at the flashes of vivid memory.Kylie’s college bed. The shards of shattered glass cascaded over the floor. Thepromises I made in that field. The promises I broke.
Ishoved those thoughts away. They wouldn’t do me any good. I shook my head atRobbie, told him I was good and placed a hand on Becca’s back. My fingerstrembled against her paper-soft skin and I convinced myself to smile.
“I’mstarving,” I said, leading her toward the backstage entrance.
?
“Theyhave thebestgator tail in town,” she said, parking her Jeep outside arestaurant calledÉcrivisse.
Iwrinkled my nose, turning to her. “Um … what about burgers?”
“Theydo have a burger that’s pretty good, but I’d recommend the gator, or one oftheir crawfish dishes.” She smiled, and I imagined a miniature lobster hangingbetween her teeth. I grimaced, and she laughed. “Boy, you came to the wrongstate.”
Nodding,I joined her with my own chuckle. “Yeah, I’m thinking you’re right, but youknow what? I’ll try your gatortail, butpromise me wecan find a McDonald’s if I don’t like it.”
Extendinga slight hand, she grinned. “You got yourself a deal.”
Climbingout of the uncovered Jeep and closing the door, I rounded to the driver side tooffer Becca my arm. Her smile was flirtatious as she slipped her hand into thecrook of my elbow.
“Ineverwouldaexpected you to be such a gentleman,”she admitted, blushing a little as we walked together to the door.
Pullingit open and allowing her in first, I asked, “What did you expect?”