Page 64 of From Air

He fucked her. I know that look. I had it two seconds before he arrived. But he’s kind of an asshole for saying it that way in front of another guy.

“Calvin’s a smoke jumper in Missoula.”

Noah shifts his attention to me, stretching his neck and pulling his shoulders back as if he now has something to prove. I don’t give a shit that he’s a nurse and I’m part of an elite group of wildland firefighters. We don’t need to compare dick sizes.

That’s never been my game.

But for the record, my dick’s twice the size of his. And Jamie knows it.

“I bet it takes adifferentkind of personality to do that kind of work,” Noah says.

I nod slowly. “Yes. Smoke jumpers are intelligent problem solvers. We’re focused. Brave. And then there’s the physical part. We’re in top physical condition all the time.”

“Noah’s looking into medical school,” Jamie announces, shooting Noah a reassuring smile that he’s not a loser.

He’s not.

Nursing is a necessary and admirable profession, as is being a doctor.

“Well, that’s great. Someone has to sign those prescription pads.” I grin. It’s not genuine. I must have misplaced the sincere smile.

Jamie frowns at me. Fine. I’m being a dick. The bigger dick. However, for argument’s sake, let’s say Jamie was my girlfriend. What kind of asshole picks up another guy’s girl right in front of him and spins her in a circle while she’s wearing a dinky dress that shows half her ass when she’s lifted off her feet?

I take Jamie’s hand as Noah opens his mouth to defend himself. “It was nice meeting you. Good luck with school, buddy.”

Buddy. It’s either a term of endearment for a guy who’s actually your buddy, or it’s what you say to a guy you never care to see again. And Noah’s fake smile says he knows it.

“Find me later, we’ll catch up,” Jamie calls to Noah as I drag her toward the clubhouse, where there’s music, food, and drinks. I don’t need another drink today, but I could use one.

“What was that?” Jamie pinches my arm.

I smile at the waiter and reach for two glasses of champagne from his tray.

“No way.” Jamie bats at my hand before I can secure the glasses. “We are not drinking.”

“You suck,” I grumble.

“What was that back there?” she repeats.

“What was what?” I head toward the food, since drinks are no longer an option.

“You were kind of a dick to Noah.”

I take a plate and start piling food onto it. “You think?”

“Yes. I think.”

“But would you say I was the bigger dick?”

“He wasn’t—” She catches it a little too late, and her smile wins. “You’re an idiot.”

“You mean I have a bigger dick.”

“I don’t think you need to have a pissing contest with the first guy who crosses our path.” She puts a few grapes and crackers on her plate.

“Jaymes, that wasn’t a pissing contest. Nobody marked you. He wanted me to know he’d slept with you, and I shared the same sentiment.”

“No. You don’t want anyone to know what happened.” She sets a serving spoon down and turns to me.

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