Page 65 of Suits and Spark Plugs

“Do you really want me to use my imagination? Because I could probably come up with something much worse than he actually said.” Kelly’s eyes took on a faraway look.

I slapped her arm playfully as I walked away with the drinks. While I was in the dining area I took orders from two booths at the front and worked my way back to the kitchen to pick up some food that was ready. When I glanced toward the back booths, I saw Kelly taking Connor’s order and chatting amiably with him. I was happy to let her have at it.

She made her way to me and pulled me off to the side with dancing eyes. “He says you’re the inappropriate one. You threw yourself into his arms at the hardware store last week?”

“What!” I craned my neck around the corner to see Connor grinning at me. I pulled my head back and glared at Kelly. “I can’t believe he’d say that.”

“Well, you were calling him a heartbreaker. His honor was on the line.”

“You told him that?”

“He’s my friend.”

“So am I, Kelly. Good nuggets. There’ll be no peace for me now.” I threw my hands in the air and walked back to my waiting customers.

It was a solid hour before I had a chance to talk with Kelly again. Thankfully Connor was long gone by then. I’d managed to avoid any more interactions, or eye contact, with him and had tried not to notice when he left.

We were clearing booths during a lull, and Kelly came to help me with mine. “So, care to explain what’s happening between you and my friend Connor?” she asked.

“Nothing is going on. He’s bothersome is all.”

“You know, I’ve been thinking...”

“Nope.”

“Oh, yes. I’ve been wondering for a while if maybe there’s a reason Connor isn’t dating right now.” I averted my gaze and made a non-committal noise. “I think that reason might be you.”

I couldn’t stop the flush that rose as I remembered how much I’d loved being held close to him and had wanted to stay in his embrace. I cleared my throat. “Please, Kelly. You’re way off.”

“Am I?”

I looked her in the eye. “Yes. I’m the last person he’d be interested in.”

“Plus, you hate him and would never be interested back.” She raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t hate him.”

“You’ve repeatedly called him sketchy.”

“In high school,” I defended, even though we both knew it was a lie.

“As recently as last week.”

I hoisted the slop bucket onto my hip and said, “Okay, busted. I gave him a chance because you said I had to, and I don’t think he’s as terrible as I used to think he was. That doesn’t mean a dang thing. Connor makes a decent friend at best, and nothing more. I’m trying to put my family back together and graduate from college. I’m not interested in more distractions. Until I can find someone who can just jump into my life and asks no questions, it’s not happening.”

Kelly’s eyes were dancing gleefully as I finished my speech. “Good luck with that. Most guys have a few questions before they jump.”

I grinned humorlessly. “Alone it is.”

“Don’t bet on it, Liv. There’s fresh meat coming in here every day.” She wiggled in a little happy dance and followed me, carrying her full tray back to the kitchen. “You’ll catch someone’s eye before too long.”

“Please, fairy godmother, I don’t want much. Just a man who’ll agree with all my decisions, think I’m charming, never talk to me in the mornings, and feed me chocolate cake every day.”

“Your list is small and reasonable.”

“I think so.”

“I think I know a guy...” Kelly began to tease but stopped at the look on my face. “Fine, but when you’re ready, just yell bibbity, bobbity, boo.”

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