Page 8 of Of Flesh & Bone

“Wildcat, because in our three encounters so far, you have ripped a drink from my hands, shoulder-checked me, bulldozed me, called me a fucker, and refused to feed me even though you know I'm hungry.”

I stifle a laugh.He says the last part like I'm genuinely depriving a hungry man of sustenance.

“Okay, so say that I was willing to feed you.I don’t cook, by the way.There’s still the minor issue of your girlfriend or non-girlfriend or whatever you want to call her.We’re not exactly friends and I can guarantee that she wouldn’t appreciate us sharing a meal.”

“Like I said, I don’t have a girlfriend or anyone else who would have an opinion on who I share meals with.”

Staying silent, I try to decide whether or not to believe him.I know for certain that he called Ada his girl.I heard him.Why would he lie now?Is he lying now?Is ‘my girl’ just something he says to women?

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.I know danger when I see it.”

I swear on Abe Lincoln’s grave that I just saw actual sparks in his eyes when I alluded to him being dangerous.

“Are you saying that I'm dangerous, Wildcat?”

“Most definitely.And not in a James Bond kind of way.I’m getting Voldemort vibes.”

This time, it’s him who appears taken aback.I just can’t tell if it’s real or staged.

“Voldemort?You think I'm a Voldemort?”

“I think on a danger scale of Atticus Finch to Thanos, you’re definitely Thanos.”

He bites his lower lip in what appears to be an attempt to bite back a laugh, andcan somebody please get the fire extinguisher because I think my vagina just burst into flames.This man is hotter than the sun.

“Let’s go, Wildcat.”

“Go where?”

“You’re going to feed me.”

“I told you, it’s not a good idea.I’m not going with you.Tell you what, though if you’ll let me buy, I'll Venmo you money for lunch.”

“No thanks.I think I’d much prefer your company.”

Damn, he is persistent.What could it hurt to go to lunch with him?Well, for starters, he’s probably lying about Ada not being his girlfriend.Going to lunch with her boyfriend would only make things worse on the team.Do I care?Ugh.Yes, I do care.I don’t want to, but I do.Then, there’s also the whole he’s definitely dangerous thing.And what’s his deal anyway?Why does he even want to go to lunch with me?Did she put him up to this to see if I would go out with her boyfriend?Holy shit!Maybe.I wouldn’t put anything past her.

“I’m sorry.I can’t.”I say as I make another attempt to walk past him.To my surprise, he lets me go this time.

As I head to the check-out counter, I try to decipher the hollowness in my chest that's been produced by his absence.Get it together, Eve.Get.It.Together.

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