He grins like he might have a clue though. "That's not what literally every person I've spoken to about you guys thinks."
"I forget you're still new in town. You might not be aware that the unofficial motto of Clovelly isWhere everyone loves to be a gossiping little bitch."
He grins some more. "That may be so, and if it were all just speculation and hearsay, I wouldn't believe it. But I've seen it with my own eyes." He clears his throat and tucks a loose strand of hair behind his ear. "This is embarrassing to say out loud, but I've kind of had a crush on you. And I think that on some subconscious level, that played a part in my issue with Court."
"Like two lions pissing to mark their territory?"
He lets out a quiet laugh, his cheeks turning pink. "Something like that. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. You even tried to gently let me down, and I may have pretended to overlook that, holding out hope of something happening between us."
"I really like you as a friend," I say, meaning every word.
"I know that. I really value our friendship as well. I'm sorry about things going so off the rails with Court. He's made a genuine effort, and now I'm going to make one, too."
"That's awesome. I really think you guys could be friends."
"Not sure I'd go that far just yet, but I'm open to seeing where it goes."
"Fair enough." I decide to leave things there. The fact we're even discussing those two possibly being friends is a major win in my book. "So how's work going?"
He slumps in the booth. "Terrible. No one's dying at the moment."
"That's…grim. On a number of levels."
"Tell me about it." He curls his hair absently around his fingers. "But it's true. And it's bad for business."
My forehead pinches as I try to think of some way I might be able to help him out. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Nah. Thanks, though."
"Hey, I have an idea. I could speak to Court. He's been talking about how well the inn is doing, and I know they get even busier over the summer. They might have a job vacancy. I can ask him."
"You don't have to do that."
I look at him closer. "Are you saying that because you think hospitality work is beneath you or out of pride?"
He tugs on the end of his strands, frowning a little. "I'veneverlooked down on hospitality work. Or service work. Or sex work. Or any kind of work for that matter. I mean, hello, I make my living off people croaking."
"So it's option B then?"
"Yeah." He blows out a dejected sigh. "Besides, he's finally started being a little nice to me. I don't want him thinking I'm taking advantage of his kindness."
"He won't. I promise. I'll just ask, and he's free to say no." My phone buzzes, and I smile when I see who it is. "Court's ears must be burning."
"What is it?" Zane asks after I stare at the message for an inordinate amount of time.
I can't believe what I'm reading.
"Uh, nothing." Zane wasn't there when Court and I told Cy and Scooter about the fucked-up situation with our parents, and I don't feel right telling him without clearing it with Court first. "Something unexpected has just come up. It's nothing bad," I say, putting the phone down and returning to my burger.
That's not true.
It is that bad.
Court's mom wants to have dinner with him…
And me.
I pull up in front of Court's mom's place and turn the engine off, feeling a lot of things.
