Page 8 of The Other Guy

She shrugs, grinning. “Clever, right?”

Kyle leans over, wraps his arm around Sierra’s shoulder. “Stick around. She’ll have you bending over in laughter.”

“So… is it?”

I glance up from my phone. “Uh. Kind of.”

“Kind of? What’s that supposed to mean? You’re killing me here! Is this how you are with everyone? Only giving them a tiny little bit of info?” Sierra leans over and taps the counter then walks her fingers my way like she’s going to grab my phone from me. I tuck it against my chest.

“Ah. Ah. Ah.”

She pokes out her bottom lip, pouting. “You’re no fun.”

“How would you know? You just met me!”

“Well, you’re here drinking. Alone. On a Saturday night.” She pauses for dramatic effect then repeats lowly, “Alone.”

I give her a look that she won’t understand because we just met, but I hope she sees that I mean to leave me alone. “I don’t see a gaggle of friends surrounding you.”

Her eyes flare and she clicks her tongue, pointing at me. “Touché.”

There’s a loud round of cheers that come from behind me and I turn to see a crowd gathered around the pool table. It makes me a little jealous that I’ve become so secluded that I’m not in the mix of friends like they are.

I spin back around and watch Kyle mix a drink that looks like it has enough liquor in it to knock a Viking on his ass.

“Do I have to beg to know what you’re talking about with this whole textdoor neighbor thing?”

“You’re so nosy.”

To that Sierra rolls her eyes. She leans over the bar and looks me in the eye. “Please tell me your story, Jack. I’m begging you.” Even throwing in batting her lashes, she smiles innocently.

“You’re relentless, aren’t you?”

Her smile could only be defined as cheeky. And full of sass. “I’ve been accused of that a time or two.”

Speaking of relentless, my phone chimes once again. This time I don’t try to hide anything from a nosy Sierra.

16: Still waiting!

“I like her.”

I glance up at Sierra and smirk.

Me: Fine. You wore me down.

16: About freaking time!

Me: Have you heard of Textdoor neighbors?

“Hey! You stole my line!” She tries to grab my phone and I slap her hand away.

“I told you it was funny. What’d you expect?”

“No, you didn’t! You spilled beer down your chest because you were laughing.”

“That’s basically telling you that it was funny. What more do you want?”

“Say the words!”