Page 18 of Joy
Silas swallowed. “They were good,” he agreed.
“Today is a cheeseburger with spicy fries.”
“Oh. I mean—thank you for making it.”
“George warned me you wouldn’t like it.”
Silas looked briefly over his shoulder. The other crewmen were fucking watching us again. “I guess I can try it,” he said, turning back to me.
“Why are they all staring?” I whispered.
“Ignore them.”
“Yeah, but—”
“They’re being stupid.”
“Are they… betting on you?”
“Yes.”
I snorted and looked back up at Silas. He was picking nervously at the container of food. “Why?”
“I like you,” he said simply.
Fuckin’ A, I knew it! Hallelujah!
I mean—I cleared my throat and put my hands on my hips. “That so?”
Silas nodded.
“Is that why you ate my food?”
He nodded again. “But I liked it,” he added.
“So what’s the bet? Can I get in on it?”
Silas glanced at me, slowly smiling. “Split fifty-fifty?”
“Hmm… fifty-fifty, but you have to eat the entire lunch.”
“Deal.”
“So what do I have to do?”
Silas cleared his throat, glancing back once more at the guys. “Let me kiss you.”
My stained shirt and tender nose were all but forgotten at this point. Today was actually turning out to be pretty damn good—the first in a long time! I got to cook and had fun doing it, and this awkward yet hot manly man liked me. And apparently it was no big deal up here in the boonies, which I definitely wouldn’t have imagined was the case.
“I’ll let you,” I said. “But are you going to?”
“Not sure.”
“Does it count if I kiss you?”
“I have to do it,” Silas answered.
“Then come on,” I said, motioning to myself. “I don’t have all day.”
