“Mm-hmm.Well, he’s been giving you the ‘fuck me’ eyes since he got here,” she teases.
I choke.“The what?”
“The ‘fuck me’ eyes, Cam.You know what I’m talking about.”
I shake my head, exasperated.“Katie, you do know some people are actually straight, right?”
“Blaze?Straight?”she laughs.“I don’t think so.”
“You’re wrong.He has a girlfriend—and they seem… fine,” I add, thinking about how Joan acted at the party.Their relationship hardly screams ‘couple goals,’ but they’re still together.
Why should I even care?
Katie smirks.“Do they?”
“What are you even getting at?”I grumble, exhaustion creeping in from my hangover and the rush of customers.“And why are you so sure Blaze is gay?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You said he’s not straight,” I point out, desperately wanting this conversation to come to an end.
“Yeah, I did say that.Just… not entirely straight.”She shrugs.“I’d say he’s bi.He’s been staring at you and winking for half an hour.I think he either likes you or wants to fuck you.Or maybe something in between.”
I shake my head, bewildered.“I don’t even know what you’re saying.”I take off my apron and hang it up.“I’m taking a break.I need food in my system if I’m going to get through this shift.”
“Sure.And hey, maybe keep an open mind about Blaze,” she calls as I head to the break area.
“I’m not interested,” I reply, though my thoughts are already somewhere else entirely.Somewhere annoyingly fixated on Fox.
What did Fox do to me?How can one kiss make me feel this way?If I’m being honest, maybe I’ve always liked him—ever since the first time I saw him.That thought alone feels dangerous.Fox might be attractive, but he’s everything I should avoid: arrogant, cocky, rude, and so, so irritating.He’s exactly the type of bad boy my parents warned me about.The kind of guys I should stay away from.And yet, every time he gives me one of those rare smirks, I feel my heart stumble.I know I should stay away, but it’s hard when we live under the same roof.
I finish eating and head back to the counter, feeling a bit more grounded as my hangover finally starts to ease.The diner’s filling up for lunch, and with a busier shift ahead, maybe I can finally distract myself.
Blaze and Leon are still talking in their booth, phones in hand, with two untouched sodas on the table.The bell on top of the door rings, signaling a new customer, and I look up from the counter, surprised to see Landon walking in with a guy.Not just any guy—he’s tall, good-looking, and clearly a bit older.Landon throws me a proud smile as he heads over, while the guy takes a seat in an empty booth.
Landon leans against the counter, giving me a pointed look.
“I know, I know.I’m the worst friend ever for not picking up your calls,” I say before he can start.
“At least you’re aware,” he replies, trying to hide a smirk.
“Am I forgiven now?”I ask, pouting dramatically.
“Not until I get all the details,” he says, and I groan.I’ve been reliving last night enough as it is.
“I’ll try to remember,” I mutter, glancing over his shoulder at the guy he came in with, who’s now scrolling through his phone.“Who’s that?”
Landon blushes slightly.“That, my friend, is Andrew.The guy I told you about.”
“Oh, right—the hunk.”I raise an eyebrow.“So, are you two official now?”
Landon shrugs, looking a bit shy.“I mean… we’re, you know, figuring it out.”
I chuckle, noticing he’s wearing his rainbow earrings today, pairing them with a black T-shirt and blue jeans.“Well, he’s definitely good-looking.”
“Stop flattering yourself.”Landon glances back at Andrew, but freezes as his gaze lands on Blaze, who’s glaring at him from across the diner.Blaze and Landon hold each other’s stares for a tense moment before Landon turns back to me, his expression a little uneasy.
“You two still at it, huh?”I ask, following his gaze to where Blaze is muttering something to Leon.
