Page 99 of Bad Cowboy, Tennessee

“Fresh batch of cinnamon rolls just came out,” Thomas said over the clatter of dishware and sizzling of bacon on the flat tops behind the bar. “I made a few with orange icing, if you want to try one.”

“God, yes,” Draven said.

I lifted an eyebrow. “What happened to your healthy green juice morning?”

“I’m bad at resisting temptations. You know that by now, love.”

I felt a slow blush creeping up on my cheeks, even though Thomas probably had no clue what Draven was referencing.

Thomas led us down to one of the booths past the big corner window of the diner.

“Yo, Burnett,” I heard from the end of the bar and saw that Andrew and Robbie were there, parked across from two cups of coffee and cinnamon rolls.

Andrew gave me a fist bump. “Dude. Made yourSucker Punchcocktails last night for a few of my football buddies, and they drank, like, six of them each.”

“Oh no,” I said, smiling. “So I’m the reason half of the TNU football team is going to be hungover this morning?”

“That shit is delicious,” Andrew said. “Rename your channel to the cocktailgod.”

“Shucks.”

“Hey, what are you up to tonight?” Andrew asked. “Come by the house and party with us?”

“Bartending. As usual,” I told him.

“Boo. Well, come by on your next night off. The guys want you. One of the sophomores is abigfan of your videos.”

“I’ll drop in sometime,” I said. “Enjoy.”

As Draven and I finally sat down at our red leather booth, tucked near the back of the long diner, I noticed he was giving me a look.

Staring at me, more like.

It was the same look he used to give me all the time when he first got into town—as if he was trying to solve me like a puzzle.

“What?” I protested.

“Whatwhat?” Draven teased.

He reached for his hat and gently took it off, placing it on the seat beside him. There was still some sort of glimmer in his eyes.

“What’s with you looking at me like you’re in on some joke that I’m not?”

“It’s not a joke, it’s an observation,” Draven mused, leaning one arm onto the back of the booth, his tattoos on display. “Come by sometime, Maxxy-poo. Us football players just can’t wait to have you around.”

I glared at him. “So Andrew’s a friendly guy. What’s your point?”

“Andrew wants to fuck you.”

I puffed out a laugh. “I’m starting to think you have some sort of distorted perception of reality, Draven.”

“No. You’re just blind to when people want you,” he said, his voice like velvet.

I glanced back over at Andrew, sitting there with Robbie at the bar. Andrew caught my eye, smiling and giving me a little nod before turning back to his food.

“I don’t even know if Andrew is attracted to men. I did hear about some new out-and-proud football player, but… wait. Was that him? I don’t pay attention to TNU social shit anymore.”

“You’re cute when you’re trying to deflect.”

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