Page 63 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

And I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

“You’re hungry,” Alex said, not giving me a chance to protest before he was out of his seat and heading around the car. To my surprise, he opened my door, gesturing magnanimously for me to head in front of him.

“You didn’t have to open my door for me,” I protested, my cheeks pinking up.

“True.” Alex’s eyes danced with mirth. “I did it because Iwantedto.” And then, because he couldn’t help but ruin everything, he added, “After you, your majesty.”

“Your…majesty?” I echoed, confused.

“You know. King George. King Arthur? Take your pick.”

I laughed, unable to help myself.

Alex groaned, a hand slapping over his chest like he’d been shot. “Damn, you’ve got such a nice laugh.” It was the exact same thought I’d had about him the day before.

“You’re such a liar.” I just glared at him, settling into our playful routine like it was second nature. When I exited the car and headed toward the cafe’s front door, I resolutely did not look Alex’s way. And if I smiled as I stomped through the parking lot, that was my business and no one else’s.

Alex whistled appreciatively from behind me, trying to inspire another laugh. “Hate to see him leave, love to watch him go,” he called, voice a silky rumble.

I flipped him off.

My secret smile remained.

The food was tasty. Greasy, but tasty. I enjoyed my fries a little too much, hiding my chewing behind my napkin as Alex demolished a massive mushroom Swiss burger. He wiped up the leftover sauce with one of the fries he’d pilfered from my plate, grinning at me as I rolled my eyes.

I ate slower than he did by a fair margin. My bites were normal bites, and his were gigantic.

“Like a baby bird,” Alex cooed, leaning his head on his hand as he watched me. Heat simmered between us. But this time it felt more intimate. Alex’s gaze was darker than before, assessing, like he enjoyed having dinner with me as much as I enjoyed sharing it with him.

A revelation for sure.

Alex’s watch gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the window, and I glared at him, frustrated it had taken me so long to come up with a comeback.

“Shut up. I do not eat like a bird.”

“What?” he teased, his leg brushing against mine. “I never said it was a bad thing.” He was messing with me again, his blue eyes flashing. “It’s cute.”

“I’m not a bird,” I repeated.

“Chipmunk then?” Alex perked up, no longer resting on his hand. “I could see that. Though…there’s another kind of nut I’d like to see you stick in your mouth.”

I kicked him.

Hard.

He cackled like a hyena, reaching down to rub his shin as his dimples flashed. He sat back up. “There it is. My favorite Georgie face. Look at that little chin dimple?—”

I slapped a hand over my chin, violated.

“So grumpy. So cute. God, I wanna bite you so bad.” As he spoke, his fingers fiddled with his watch band, metal catching the light. The dark gunmetal color had a stark contrast with his tan skin. The waitress, who had been walking over to refill our drinks, paused, turned around, and walked back the way she’d come.

“You’re terrorizing the employees.”

“Giving them a show, is all,” Alex replied, back to his regular bullshit. “Nothing to worry about, Prissy-Mc-Leggy-Legs.”

Prissy-Mc—what?

“I’m not the one who’s wearing a designer watch on a camping trip.” Ha! Take that. I couldn’t wait to see what he said in reply. I expected Alex to quip back, to flirt again, to smile—anything.

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