Page 19 of Darlin'

"No, it's my fucking backup bartender," Jesse grumbles. "Fucker got mono." He shakes his head in disbelief. "What kind of adult gets mono? Isn't that shit for kids?"

"I don't know," I say with a shrug, disappointed Beau isn't checking up on me. "Never had it."

"Yeah." He scoffs. "I don't doubt it. It's called the kissing disease for a reason." He gives me a mocking scowl. "Means someone would actuallywannakiss you."

I roll my eyes. "Darlin', I'vebeenkissed. Don't you worry about me."

"Poor bastard," Jesse mutters. "Probably died upon impact."

"Curious?" I ask, puckering up. "Let's see if I can put you out of your misery, huh?" I toss him fake smooches. "Well? Come on. Plant one on me, darlin'."

"Tempting offer," he says, clicking his tongue. "But on the off chance I don't shrivel up and die, I don't wanna live with the memory of you sucking on my face."

"I don't suck," I state sharply, immediately regretting my choice of wording, but it's too late.

"I don't doubt that either," he says, snorting at his wildly inappropriate joke. "Like I said,poor bastard." He cocks his head as my blushing cheeks betray my collected exterior. "How's that apple treating you, babe? Juicy enough for ya?”

"Mhmm.” I take a giant bite, maintaining strong eye contact with Jesse. It'll take more than an underhanded and inaccurate jab for me to bow out. "I love 'em hardandjuicy."

His brow perks up. "Is that so?"

"Yup," I state, licking my lips seductively. "It's always been my preference."

"Yeah?" He relaxes into the chair, spreading his legs as he rests the beer can on his crotch. "How manyappleshave you had, princess?"

"Plenty," I lie, crossing my legs and keeping my fibbing tone level.

"Bullshit," he notes, skimming my uneasy features.Shoot. "I'm going to go out on a limb and say you've never tasted an apple in your life."

"Oh, I've tasted apples," I state, not necessarily lying. "Many of 'em."

"Mmm..." He licks his lips. "Don't buy it."

"Well, I ain't selling," I huff, swallowing. A subject change is in order. A-freaking-SAP. "So, you work at a bar?"

"Nice. Stop while you're ahead." He chuckles, combing his fingers through his beard. Thankfully, he doesn't continue his acute observations of my limited sexual history. "I don'tworkat a bar; Iowna bar." He briefly glances over at his phone, muttering with frustration, "Although a bar with no bartender might be hard to keep afloat."

I nibble on my bottom lip, freedom in sight. "I um...I know how to make drinks."

He snorts. "My patrons aren't really the cosmopolitan types."

"I can also pour beer," I add, sliding to the edge of my seat. "And shots."

"Yeah? You know how to pour beer?" he hums, his sharp features glowing like the devil. "How's yourhead?"

"It's um..." I clear my throat, placing the apple core on the table. Seriously? Who named that?! "I've been told I pour the best head."

"Thebesthead, huh?" Jesse nods slowly. "I don't know, princess...a perfect head is hard to master." He leans forward, antagonizing me as he notes, "You're only twenty-one, right? How much practice have you really had?"

We both know he ain’t talking about beer anymore, but I refuse to let an opportunity pass me by. Freedom is in sight!

"Enough," I say, giving him a tight-lipped smile. "I helped cover some of my sorority sister's shifts when she went on vacation this past semester. I was a natural."

"Sorority?" He scoffs. "Wow. I mean, makes sense."

"What isthatsupposed to mean?" I ask defensively. "Got a problem with a sisterhood?"

"Bunch of chicks living in one house?" A sleazy grin spreads on his face. "Hardly call that a problem. You guys have pillow fights?"

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