Page 38 of Promise Me

“Oh my gosh,I’m so tired,” Sadie says on another yawn.

“You’ve been down here for hours,” Betty says. “Why don’t you go get some sleep? You can come to hang out with me during my shift tomorrow, too. I like having you around.”

From the other side of the bar, I roll my eyes.

These two have been laughing and telling stories since Sadie walked down here to get some food. I thought she’d leave as soon as she finished eating, but she and Betty got to talking. More customers showed up, sitting at the bar. I could feel their eyes on me and wondered if word had spread that the two of us were in the same place and not fighting.

“I like it too,” Luca says loudly and takes another drink of his beer.

Yep, my brother showed up, and he’s been grinning like a fool since the moment he walked in.

“Yeah, I’ve had a good night. The best in a few days, really.”

“Does your head still hurt?” Luca asks.

“Luca!” I snap.

“What?” He shrugs.

“Don’t ask her that.”

He grins. “It’s a valid question. She hit that shit hard.”

“Luca!” I scold again, this time lowering my head as I close my eyes. “Be respectful.”

He laughs, and suddenly, another sound hits me. Sadie is laughing, too.

Slowly, I open my eyes to look at her.

She’s watching me.

“So, let me get this straight. You’re just a grump with everyone.”

“Yep,” Luca answers.

“Damn, I thought I was special.”

“Oh, you get the worst of it by far. No one in this town gets him as worked up as you.”

Oh hell.

“Luca. Aren’t you done?” I ask.

“Am I talking too much?”

“Yes, you are.”

“I like it,” Sadie cuts in.

“Me too.” This is coming from Betty. “To be honest, you’re a lot less grumpy and pissed today than usual.”

I open my mouth to defend myself, but Sadie speaks first.

“You would think that with his new roommate situation, he’d be a bit more in stick-up-his-butt mode.”

Luca chuckles. “Hud, have a roommate? Sure okay. Who?” He sips his beer.

“Me.”

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