Page 29 of Protect Me
Bastian frowned. “Wasn’t she always like that?”
I shrugged. “This is different.”
“Huh.”
He ran his tongue over his teeth, then took another bite. I nudged guacamole into a corner of the bowl, thoughts churning.
“Vinita said there’s some recent history that she won’t tell me about. Don’t know what it means, but Katelyn appears . . . frightened.”
“Ah.” Bastian’s features illuminated. “You always loved being the hero.”
“Shut up.”
He held up two hands, laughing. “What? You were the ladies’ man. Always. Women flock to you.”
“Not this one.”
He laughed again. “That explains it.”
I scowled. “No, that doesn’t. Katelyn isn’t a conquest to win or a challenge or even a distraction. She’s . . . different.”
“Sure.”
I opened my mouth to tell himexactlywhat I thought of his amusement, but our waitress approached. She looked right at me, a bright smile on her face.
“Can I get either of you anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Nothing?”
She leaned against the table, eyes batting my direction. As far as subtlety went, she had none of it. A year ago, I would have hopped on that in a second. Dinner, date, who-knew-what-else. Too easy, girl.
Today?
I turned away.
“Nothing.”
After a pause, she disappeared. Bastian smirked.
I threw a piece of chicken at him.
Bash leaned forward, exasperated. Grains of rice dribbled out of his burrito as he pushed the plate forward to make room for his arms.
“Since when are you hung up on a woman?”
“Since now.”
“Huh.”
“You’re the one in a committed relationship. Any words of advice?”
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re still bitter about me and Dahlia being together?”
I frowned. “Dahlia’s great.”
“You hate that the Merry Idiots have moved into their own lives, and you haven’t.”
