Page 46 of Cider
Titus sat at the counter, pulling the bar stool up. His fingers tapped the granite. I could just see the thoughts twirling in his head.
I offered him a bite, holding out the bread to him as the ketchup slowly oozed out of the sides. “Want a bite, sweetie?”
“Err.” He pulled back away from it. “No, thank you. I’m full.”
“Really?” Lowering my voice in a pout. “You don’t like Billy’s cooking? You don’t want to hurt his feelings, do you?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him as my lower lip trembled.
I could feel Billy next to me. He was doing his best to keep a straight face, but he was shaking a little with how hard he was trying not to move.
“What? I didn’t say that!” Titus glanced at Billy. “I enjoyed your food very much. I’m just not a huge ketchup fan.”
“Come on.” I pushed it closer as I leaned over the counter. “This will change your mind, I promise.” My fox’s tail was going nuts.
Titus groaned, leaned his head forward and took a bite of the sandwich. Ketchup plopped down onto the countertop as he sat back, chewing slowly with what I could only describe as a panicked look on his face.
Billy wiped up the ketchup without saying a word as we both watched Titus force himself to swallow. He looked like it physically pained him. When he finally swallowed, a soft little noise left him.
That was it. Howling with laughter, my hand slapped the island as I sat the remainder of the sandwich on the plate. Billy was laughing so hard, he was wheezing. He had to hold up his towel with one of his hands.
Titus glanced between us, his lips pressed in a tight line.
“Really?” His tone was so dry, it could peel paint.
That just set Billy and I off again.
When Jack walked in, buttoning his shirt up, he found Billy and I practically on the floor, leaning against each other as we gasped for air. Titus had crossed his arms with a glare that promised revenge in the future.
“Uh?” Jack snagged my sandwich off the plate and finished it in two large bites.
Titus sputtered. “How could you eat that?”
Swallowing, Jack rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “Easy. That was good. You ready to go, baby?” He offered his other hand to me.
I put mine in his and he pulled me into his chest, wrapping his other arm around my waist.
“You’ll have to tell me what that was about tonight.” He winked down at me as he walked us out the door. “See you two later today!”
The door closed behind us. I felt a little bad for Billy. Leaving him to fend for himself with Titus in a tizzy.
“You’re a minx, aren’t you?” Jack squeezed my waist.
“Nope. I’m a fox!” I giggled again. “And quite possibly a brat.”
“No ‘possibly’ about it.” Jack shook his head as he grinned looking at me. “Life is going to be very interesting with you in it now.”
My body melted against his. This guy certainly had a way with words.
“We should get going. We’re going to be late.” I didn’t move from his arms even as I said it, though. “Even if we speed, we’re going to be a few minutes late.”
“Ah. We’re not going to be late. We’ll be on time.” Jack’s confidence was distracting. I wanted to lick his neck.
“Uh, Jack, we have like ten minutes to get there and we haven’t moved.” My fingers moved along his collar, straightening it. “Can I just say that I really like you in these kinds of shirts?”
His deep rumble warmed me. “I’ll make sure to remember that. Now, hold tight.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and suddenly, we weren’t standing any longer.
Wind surrounded us, our feet left the ground. I squeaked as my hands clutched his shirt.
“Here we go.” Jack laughed as we shot forward into the trees like when we’d played tag in the mountains.
