Page 34 of Injustice and Absolution

“That was a quick answer,” he laughs, not taking his eyes off me. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch him study me, and it makes my head swim. Though that’s probably from the beer.

“Yeah, well... I feel strongly about it.” I pierce him with a narrowed gaze.

“I can see that.” He raises his eyebrows before taking another sip of his drink.

“What are you doing here anyway?” I bark, angry he can read me like a book.

“I came with my boy, Sam.”

I try to place Sam... Visualize who Drew is talking about, and I think I remember Mickey introducing me to a friend of his named Sam a long time ago, but I can’t be sure. Though these parties are often attended by loads of people I don’t know, so I don’t waste too much time on it.

With another awkward silence upon us, I can feel my thoughts turning a dark corner. As jealousy rears its ugly head, I wonder if he and Sienna are together. He hasn’t been back to the store since I saw him last, and she hasn’t said more than a few words to me since then either.

If they are together, him being here is a problem.

“Where’s Sienna?” I blurt out before I can stop myself, irritated at my question for multiple reasons.

For starters, I really don’t care where she isorif they’re together.

Liar.

My chest clenches as the thought of them as a couple rattles through my brain.

Second, I’m angry as though I’m jealous of her. And I suppose I am, but it’s only because she has someone who actually likes her.

Careful not to choke on your self-deprecation, Delilah.

My subconscious scolds me, shooting me an eye roll for added flair. She’s usually not this prickly. I suppose she’s as sick of me as I am.

Third, I know for a fact Sienna is closing the store tonight. And I’m sure Drew is smart enough to put together that, as I work with her, I’m more than aware of her schedule.

Let’s not even mention the fact that bringing her or their possible relationship up could lead to a conversation about feelings. Andthatis not a conversation I need to be having withanyoneright now. Especially not some guy I don’t know.

“Beats me, why? Isn’t sheyourfriend?”

I look at him like he’s crazy, in an effort to save face.

“Um,no. She’s my supervisor. I thought you two were an item or something? The way you were flirting with one another in the store a couple weeks ago—”

“Oh, that wasn’t flirting,” he corrects.

When I roll my eyes at him, he laughs. “I’m serious.”

“It looked and sounded an awful lot like flirting. And if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, Drew...” Oh my god, if I needed any more proof that I should put this drink down immediately, that was it.

But my embarrassment has me taking another long swig instead before continuing. “I practically gagged on the charm from all the way in the back of the store.”

His tongue darts out over his lower lip, and his top teeth follow, sucking the plump skin underneath them. A flash of Royce doing the same thing weeks ago causes a stir in my lower stomach.

“Why? Were you jealous?” he questions suggestively, all humor gone from his expression as he cocks his head to the side.

The movement almost gives me pause. I remember the way he looked at me the last time we saw one another. It was intense, and the idea that he had some sort of attraction to me was too much for me to handle or process.

But tonight, for some reason, it takes the stir from my memory of Royce and amplifies it.

“N-no,” I give him a half-truth, shaking my head slightly.

At the time Iwasjealous, but not because Drew was speaking to Sienna. It was because Royce had just torn my heart from my chest. And if I’m being perfectly honest, watching them interact … the innocent flirting people do at the early stages of a romance seemed like something I would never get to experience.

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