Page 62 of Break My Heart
I can’t hold back my smile. ‘Okay, you caught me. How do you know this shit?’
‘I’m a bartender. I see that look all the time. So who was she?’
‘You don’t know her. I need to go clean up. I’ve got a lot of work to do.’ I take off and go up to my apartment. I should be thinking about all the stuff I need to get done, but instead I’m thinking about Gina. I almost text her, but then don’t, remembering that we’re not dating.
* * *
After three hours of working in my office, I come out to the bar and find Wade talking to Milo.
‘You just get here?’ I say to Milo.
‘Yeah, I’m a little early.’ He glances at Wade, then back at me. ‘Hey, I um, had a question for you. A personal question, but it’s also kind of work-related.’
‘What is it?’
He walks up to me. ‘That girl. The one who helped fix the register last night?’
‘Yeah. What about her?’
‘You said she’s just a friend, right?’ Milo seems nervous. He’s never nervous. He’s one of the most laid back people I know.
‘Yeah. Why?’
‘I just wanted to make sure. When you had her at your place last night I didn’t know if it was because—’
‘We’re just friends. What’s this about?’
‘I want to ask her out. But I wanted to make sure you were cool with it since she’s kind of our competitor.’
‘She isn’tkind ofour competitor,’ I say, raising my voice. ‘She IS our competitor.’ I go past him to the end of the bar. ‘The answer is no, you can’t go out with her.’
‘Why? I’m not going to tell her anything. I just want to take her to dinner, get to know her.’
I storm over to him. ‘She’s not going to date you. Gina’s not looking for a boyfriend. She doesn’t have time for one. And even if she did, you’re too young for her.’
‘I’m 25. That’s not too young.’
‘Then go ahead. Ask her out. See what she says.’ I go around him. ‘I’ll be in the back.’
Going in my office, I slam the door and take a breath, trying to calm down. I totally overreacted just now. Milo’s probably out there wondering what the hell happened. I never yell at him like that, and I shouldn’t have done it. I lost control hearing him talk about Gina, wanting to ask her out.
I’m not even dating her and I’m acting like she’s mine. But she can’t be. I’d be stupid to get involved with her. I’m not risking my business for a girl, even if it’s a girl I really like and could see myself being in a relationship with. I want a relationship, but not now, and not with a girl I’m not sure I can trust.
‘Sawyer.’ Wade knocks on the door.
I open it. ‘Hey, tell Milo I’m sorry about how I acted out there. I’m just tired.’
‘Don’t worry about it. He’s good.’ Wade leans against the door frame. ‘So about that girl. I didn’t know.’
‘Didn’t know what?’
‘That you and her are a thing.’
‘We’re not.’
He laughs a little as he rubs his beard.
‘What’s so funny?’
