Page 67 of Your Place or Mine

His jaw worked. “You think this is a game.”

“No,” I said softly, suddenly serious. “I think this is complicated.”

He didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

Just stared at me like he was trying to decide whether to walk away or burn the whole thing down.

And then, slowly, he reached out. Not far. Just enough for his fingers to brush against mine on the bar. Light. Tentative. Like a question.

I didn’t pull away.

Didn’t breathe.

“Lydia,” he said, my name rough on his tongue.

That was it. Just my name.

But it held more weight than some entire conversations.

The air between us felt like it might snap.

And then, because my brain couldn’t help but interrupt moments of real feeling, I said, “You know, for someone so grumpy, you’re weirdly sweet when no one’s looking.”

He growled under his breath and pulled his hand back like I’d slapped him. “Don’t push it.”

“I’m not. I’m just observing.”

“You’re provoking.”

“Same thing, depending on the man.”

His nostrils flared. “Keep talking like that and you’re going to end up learning exactly how little patience I have.”

I leaned in, chin propped in my hand. “You say that like it’s a threat.”

He blinked once, slowly.

And I swear, for a second, it looked like he might reach for me again.

Might say something else.

Might shatter whatever line we were pretending not to toe.

But Drew reappeared behind the bar like the world’s most inconveniently timed third wheel, wiping his hands on a towel and looking between us like we were two teenagers caught with our hands in the cookie jar.

“Miss me?” he asked, grinning.

Callum stepped back like he’d been doused with cold water.

I picked up my drink and sipped, pretending I hadn’t just been two seconds from combusting.

Drew looked from one of us to the other, narrowing his eyes. “Well, then. I’m just gonna… keep moving. Don’t mind me.”

He wandered down the bar, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

Callum muttered something under his breath and turned away, grabbing a bottle from the shelf like it had personally offended him.

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