Page 30 of Bad Cowboy, Tennessee

“Sure seemed like one when he nearly choked me.”

She grimaced a little. “Well, to be honest, I’m not dating him anymore. We broke up pretty soon after we got to town.”

Pieces rearranged themselves in my mind like sorting out a puzzle.

“You actually did break up,” I said.

“Well, our breakup was a long time coming,” Lily finally said.

So he hadn’t been lying.

He still drove me insane at the bar the other night. He was so obvious about being on the prowl, looking for a fuck. Talking about wantingmeto clean his cock with my tongue?

I shifted on the booth seat.

“Going to go run to the restroom, then grab another water,” Lily said. “Be right back.”

As she went up to the counter, I felt for my phone, pulling it out and compulsively checking it.

There was another text from Draven.

Draven

What are you doing right now?

Max

Why do all your texts feel like an interrogation?

You’re the one who asked me where I was hiding earlier.

Because I feel like you’re probably up to something.

I’m just checking in on you. In a friendly way.

You think we’re friends now?

We can start. I’ll go first. I’m Draven, and I like riding horses, drinking whiskey, and fucking people until they can barely walk afterward. Your turn.

I’m Max, and I’m not telling you jack shit.

You’re so cute.

I hated that I blushed as I read that text.

I looked all around the diner, as if I was worried that everyone in here could see it all over my face.

But no one was looking.

I turned back to my phone.

I’m Max. I like making cocktails, playing sports, and every Harrison Ford movie ever made.

Indiana Jones fan?

Big time. And Han Solo is the best part of the original Star Wars movies, without a doubt.

Now that’s just rude to Carrie Fisher. She’s a bombshell.

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