If Tawk was in a better mood, he would’ve thought their exchange kind of entertaining. As it stood though, Tammy was still standing in her porch entryway in a short sleeve top, freezing.
As Wreck drove away, he slid her a glare. “You’re annoying me.” But he couldn’t put a finger on exactly why.
“Well, you’re annoying me too, stalker.”
Tawk let off a humorless laugh and shook his head as he headed for his truck. “You wish, lady.”
“That was cocky.”
“It’s confident.”
“How do you know everyone in the Cold Foot Crew?” she called.
“Why can’t you put a jacket on?” he asked, rounding on her.
“Why does it matter to you?”
All these questions were pissing him off. His attention ghosted down to her crossed arms, covered in gooseflesh still, and then back up to her face. She had bangs that covered her forehead, and longer pieces that framed her heart-shaped face. Her eyes were bright blue and surrounded by dark makeup, which made them look even lighter.
“Bangs are for break-ups,” he observed. He’d seen that on some stupid meme somewhere and now he didn’t know why the hell that had leaked out of his mouth. This woman was really getting to him.
“Do you just say whatever is on your mind?” she asked.
“Actually…no,” he replied honestly. “I barely talk.”
“It’s probably for the best. You’re rude.”
He huffed a sigh and looked at his truck, his getaway, his escape. “Have the day you deserve,” he said, and then turned and opened his truck door.
“We have happy hour from six to eight on Thursdays at the bar.”
“I don’t drink,” he said, rejecting whatever was happening.
“We serve iced tea at happy hour too. The food’s cheaper then.”
Was she…was she asking him out? “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because most Thursdays, the Cold Foot Crew comes in for happy hour.” She pushed off the wall and made her way to her door. Right before she went inside, she turned and said, “Hey, Sentry?”
“What?”
“Bangsarefor break-ups, you judgmental twat. You’re right. One year, newly divorced, he messes with my head still sometimes, I moved here a few months ago to get away from the games, and see my friend Harley more, and I cut my bangs myself one night after one too many glasses of red wine. I’m trying to grow them out. It’s a long process. My hair grows slow as molasses.”
He wanted to tell her they looked fine. He wanted to say he was sorry for whatever she was going through, but sometimes empathetic words didn’t come to him easily, or fast enough. She was back in her house with the door firmly closed before he could whisper an apology. Or at the least, he owed her a thank you for letting him know a time and place to catch the Cold Foot Crew. He would be harder to say no to if the Crew got used to his presence.
Smart girl. Smart, but also dumb. She’d called him a Twat. A twat? Seriously? For giving a shit if she froze to death out here? She was going to catch a cold with her immature wardrobe choices. Humans were fragile and Tammy was definitely human. She could catch a cold and croak, and something about that…something about the thought of her getting sick…well it didn’t sit right with him.
Maybe it was because Wreck was right. Perhaps his sympathy came from his own dragon feeling off. Feeling sick.
And now, feeling like nothing at all thanks to whatever power Jess was casting onto him. The dragon had gone still and quiet the second she’d rolled down the window.
Tawk got into his truck, and slammed the door beside him, but it was another few minutes still before he could convince himself to leave. Tammy was confusing.
Why had she told him about happy hour?
Why had she shared something personal, like her break-up?
Why had she talked to him at all?
