Page 146 of Zero Chance

“Jobs,” he muttered, sniffing as if they were repugnant.A moment later, he sighed.“I really should get a job, shouldn’t I?My championship money’s gotten me my Jeep, college dues, and monthly rent for these past couple of years, but it’s not going to last forever.Hey,” he added suddenly as if just remembering.“I was offered a student employee position at the campus farm, shoveling horseshit and feeding cattle.What do you think?Should I take it?”

I glanced up, startled that he actually wanted my opinion.This was an honor I wasn’t expecting.Taking it seriously, I said, “I think that’s a great idea.I’ve learned a lot from working an hourly wage job.And not just how to shelve books.This is the perfect time to get your work ethic started.”

He nodded in agreement and lifted a finger.“Plus, I’m going to start feeling like your sugar baby soon, with you and your one job, making all the cash, while I’m over here, doing nothing but looking pretty for all our date nights.”

I rolled my eyes over his joke, only to say, “I have two jobs, actually.”

“Wait.”His eyebrows lifted in surprise, and he set a hand to his ear.“What’s this I hear?”

I nodded, grinning over his surprise.“My dad bought the Cowpokes bar and grill last year, so I work there a couple nights a month when he’s low on waitresses.”

“No shit?”Keene stared at me in amazement before murmuring, “Cowpokes?”Pointing, he announced, “I’ve been to that place a few times.”

“I know.I saw you dance with Hope one night.”

He lifted his hands.“Wait.You weretherethat night?”

Nodding, I went back to work, looking up a call number on the computer and making a note on the pile of pages in front of me before flipping to the next sheet.“You took some girl into one of the bathrooms with you before we closed.”

Keene was quiet for a moment, and when I risked a glance up, he winced.“Yeah, I did,” he said.“I’ve taken a lot of girls a lot of places.”

I nodded, agreeing with that assessment.

Unable to keep looking at the worried cringe in his eyes, I went back to work, jotting down another call number.

Finally, he murmured, “Does that bother you?Knowing how many people I’ve been with?”

I lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug.“I don’t really have the right to feel one way or another about anything you did before—before—” I motioned between us and mumbled, “This.”I had no idea what else to call it.“I have no control or say about what you did with your body.”

“But you do now,” Keene insisted quietly.“Because I give you that right.”

I looked up in surprise, and he apologized with his eyes because he knew exactly how I felt.So I thought it only right that I be brave enough to admit it out loud.“In that case, I didn’t like it.”

Reaching out, he cupped my face.“It’ll never happen again.”

“Good.”

He chuckled.“I think I like you being all proprietary over me.Makes me feel like I’m actually worth something.”

You’re worth everything, I didn’t tell him.

As if his mother agreed, she decided to make us aware of her presence by spreading a cold chill up the backs of our necks and down our arms.

Keene laughed again and glanced up at the air.“I was here to visit you too, don’t worry,” he assured his ghost mom before transferring his gaze to me with a slight roll of his eyes.“If you’ll excuse me, I think that’s my cue to give her a little Mommy-Keene time.Though I already know what she wants to talk about.Last time I came to see her, all she did was complain about how bad you are at shelving books.”

“I’mnotbad,” I cried in offense.“They’ve changed where some things are shelved in the last ten years, and she doesn’t seem to believe me when I tell her they don’t gothereanymore.”

When a stray book on the counter slid forward and nudged my arm in reprimand, I jerked away, muttering, “Hey.I’m telling the truth.”

Laughing harder, Keene jumped off the counter, saying, “Come on, Mom.We’ll go to the basement, and you can tell me all about how awful her library skills are, okay?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, but he only winked before striding off.

A little over an hour later, he returned to the desk to tell me he was heading out.

Disappointment rattled through me—I liked just being in the same building as him—but I sent him a sad smile and waved, thinking that would be that.Except, Keene had other ideas.

Sweeping up to the counter, he leaped on top and slid over to me, smiling as he stopped right where I was working.Leaning in, he cupped the back of my head and pulled me up onto my toes to meet his mouth as his head descended.

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