Page 13 of The Heartbreak List

“I could do with something juicy and pink between my teeth.” I smirk when he makes that face. The one that says he thinks I’m a manwhore.

He isn’t wrong, but sometimes I like to lay it on a little thick to offend his sensibilities. The guy has a white picket fence and a St. Bernard, for fuck’s sake, but hasn’t dated a single woman, or man, in the time that we’ve been working together. Hasn’t even had a one-nighter as far as I’m aware. “I’ll find out if Pez and Ramzi want to join us.”

Pez is almost on the ground already, and Ramzi is moving through the crowd toward him. As his feet hit the mat, she throws both arms around him. He takes her face in his hands and kisses her before they walk toward me together, both sporting big goofy grins. Pez has his arm slung around her shoulder and she holds onto his hand as though keeping it in place.

“We’re going to grab burgers on the way to work.” I point at Lucas over my shoulder. “You want to join us?”

Pez glances down at Ramzi and shakes his head. “Sorry, man. We need to go home and check on the cat. The little shithead likes to break our things when we’re not around.”

“Plus, you stink.” Ramzi lays a hand on his chest and leans in to inhale. “You should really shower before you go to work.”

She doesn’t give one single fuck that he’s sweaty. Well, actually… “Fine. You two go home and have sex.”

I chuckle inwardly as I walk away, and they half-heartedly attempt to deny the obvious. They can’t keep their hands to themselves, which is exactly how it should be.

Lucas raises an eyebrow as I get to him.

“They have better things to do.” I drag my keys from my pocket. “I’ve got my truck.”

Thirty-five minutes later we’ve parked the truck in the parking lot at the bar and walked the few blocks to Burgasms to pick up lunch.

We’re walking back when I spot a familiar profile through the storefront window of a narrow bookshop. Her head is bowed over the book in her hands. Her brown hair is tied up in a ponytail and her denim shorts are too big for her, held up with a navy scarf she’s knotted in a bow. She looks tired as she pulls the side of the striped cardigan around her with a shiver.

“Do you know her?” Lucas’s gruff voice reminds me that he’s there.

“We’ve met.” I step back from the building. I didn’t realize I’d gotten so close. Like a kid with his nose up against the window of a candy shop. Seeing her takes the edge off my thoughts.

“Do you want to say hello? I’ll open the bar.”

“No.” I spin away from the window as she moves between tables. I’m already thinking too much about her. Already too invested in her future. What comes next? Making friends? Hanging out? Giving a fuck? “We should go.”

I barely make it three steps before she walks out onto the pavement in front of me. Karma might as well be waving a giant middle finger at me.

Her smoke and honey eyes widen. “Theo?”

“This one knows your name?” Lucas snorts behind me like he almost can’t believe it.

It’s easy to ignore Lucas when Indy laughs. She beams at him over my shoulder and her face lights up. “That’s because he isn’t trying to fuck me.”

Lucas chokes and then covers it up with a cough. When he can get himself under control, he holds out a hand. “I’m Lucas.”

She places her hand in his. “Indy. It’s nice to meet you.”

I’m happy to be the butt of their joke. I’m glad to see her looking more cheerful. Even if she’s lost more weight and those shadows under her eyes are darker. Even if the light fades too quickly, softens into something duller that Lucas either politely ignores or doesn’t catch.

“Is that an engagement ring?” Lucas narrows in on the diamond on her finger.

She steals her hand back and pushes that one stubborn strand back from her face while the sun glints on the threads of copper in her hair. She smiles softly. “It is.”

“Your fiancé must be one lucky man.” Lucas straightens and smiles right back at her.

Now he can talk to a woman? When she’s not a threat to his solitary existence?

She darts a pleading glance my way as she brings the book to her abdomen and holds it there like a shield.1001 Things To Do Before You Die.Her eyes brighten. “H-he—"

“Can you open the bar?” I shove the sack with my food in it at Lucas’s chest. Indy doesn’t need to get stuck in an awkward conversation about whether her fiancé is lucky that his soon-to-be-wife is dying. “Do you have time for a coffee?”

“I…” She digs in her purse for her phone and lights up the screen. “I have time.”

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