Nick turns and twirls a strand of my hair with his finger as he studies me. “I’m listening.”
“You’re good at this.” The tequila makes me braver. “You actually listen. Being with you doesn’t feel forced or too much. You make it comfortable.”
“Yeah?” He sounds pleased.
“Yeah.” I pause, then add quietly, “The closeness is nice and not too overbearing.”
His thumb traces circles on my shoulder. “And what about this?”
“Not too much.” Goose bumps trail over my arm, and I try to brush them away.
His brows lift, and before he can say anything, a shadow falls across our table.
“Jules”—Craig’s voice cuts through the moment—“can we talk?”
“No,” I say.
“Come on. Five minutes.”
Nick’s arm tightens around me. “She said no. We’re actually on a date, and you’re rudely interrupting it.”
Craig’s eyes narrow at our closeness. “This is ridiculous. You’ve known him what, two days?”
“Actually, a year,” I say. “Not that it’s any of your damn business.”
“Ayear?” Craig laughs bitterly, and I can smell beer on his breath. “Funny how you never mentioned him.”
The dining room quiets, and my heart rate increases.
Craig’s face flushes red as the restaurant watches our drama unfold like it’s dinner theater.
“Funny how you never asked about my life when we were together, but care so much now,” I counter.
“You’re using him to make me jealous.”
Nick starts to respond, but I squeeze his hand, stopping him. This is my battle.
“Craig, I need you to understand something.” I keep my voice level. “Not everything is about you. Nick and I are together. You and I are over. Those are two separate facts that have nothing to do with one another.”
“Jules—”
“Please leave us alone,” I snap.
Craig stands there for another moment, giving me his bestgo to helllook, then storms off, nearly knocking into our server.
“Well handled,” Nick says quietly.
“I’ve had practice. It’s not often I have to use my manager tone.” I take a sip of my margarita and laugh. “He’ll probably text me later with either an apology or more accusations.”
“Want me to fuck him up?”
“Yes, but also, he’s not worth it.”
Our food eventually arrives, and we both ordered steak and baked potatoes. When we’re halfway through eating, Nick’s phone vibrates on the table. He glances at it and frowns.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, it’s just my little brother, who has been a total pain in my ass.” He lets it ring.
