10. Six
Six
Jake
L ook, I wasn’t proud of myself, either.
But I was pleased as fuck to catch a glimpse of my girl’s pretty copper locks through the window. Her radiant smile hit me straight in the heart as she dropped her head back and laughed inside The Diner, the only diner in town and aptly named.
I nearly skipped right on by, stopping only when I caught her companion in the booth, with his floppy hair, sharp jaw, and not a single stubble in that smooth shave. He probably shaved his chest, too.
While I wish I were a better man and left Fallon alone when meeting with her former hook-up… Nope, actually, I was good with this.
“Oh.” My arm slid around Fallon’s shoulders as I smacked my gum and grinned. “Judging by that twitch in your eye, you’re unhappy to see me. Ouch, Beau.”
Her elbow flew into my gut, and I knew her well enough to catch her meaning. “Jake,” she warned.
Fine. I was being a dick, but it brought me minimal guilt when I sat across from a grown man wearing a shirt that said, As seen on your mom .
Beau cleared his throat, nodding to Anni behind the counter. “You want a coffee or something?” he asked, unaffected.
Fallon gave him a small smile. He returned a matching one. Decidedly not a fan of that.
“None for me,” I said with a sniff, glancing out the window to watch the passing traffic crawl along the main road. “Too much caffeine hypes me up and makes me impulsive. Never ends well, especially around weapons.” I gestured to the cutlery.
Fallon groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Jake,” she mumbled between the cracks of her fingers.
“What?”
Beau kept his eyes on me, his creepy smile lingering. Always fucking smiling. “It’s fine, Fal. I get it. I’m sensitive to caffeine as well. Makes me anxious.”
Her eyes lit up. “Me too! I used to think I had anxiety, but then I realized it was probably the three Venti iced coffees I drank daily.”
The dipshit laughed, nodding along and relaxing on his side of the booth. “Bet listening to all those murder podcasts didn’t help matters.”
That broad smile… repugnant. People liked this guy? Zero magnetism in his bright and slightly crooked grin. Not even close to charming.
My narrowed eyes examined him. Couldn’t trust a guy with that kind of lighthearted banter. Fallon liked my curmudgeonly nature. She tolerated it, anyway—no need to split hairs here.
Fallon’s head dropped against the booth as her attention stayed fixed on Beau. “You remember, huh?” Her fingers twisted in the ends of her hair, playing with the pretty strands.
“Hard to forget when you made me listen to the one about the dude who used skin from his victims to make lampshades.” Beau visibly shuddered.
“Ed Gein,” I supplied, because she made me listen to those chilling podcasts, too. “Not just lampshades. Upholstered chairs with human flesh.”
Leaning forward, Fallon tapped the table. “Gein was obsessed with his mother and wanted to make a skin suit to quasi-resurrect her.”
I grimaced. “Christ, Fal.”
I adored her odd interests, but that toed the line.
Beau nodded in earnest. “Christ is right. I still think about that when I can’t sleep.”
He flashed a friendly grin my way, met only with my impassive gaze.
Fallon glanced between us, her eyes widening when they landed on mine.
Good grief. My girl could hold an entire conversation with disapproving glares alone. I loved that about us, but it was mighty inconvenient today.
Be nice, they said.
I didn’t want to be, but I insisted Fallon get closure with Beau. I beat on about not being jealous. And I wasn’t jealous, not exactly. More rubbernecking. Like driving past the carnage of an accident, ensuring there were no survivors.
Be nice. I could.
I shifted in the booth. “Um. Yeah. Scary shit at night.”
See? I nudged Fallon with my elbow.
She was an idealist. “Look at you guys having common interests!”
I snickered. “Murder? Should I have been taking notes?”
Fallon pinched me. Hard.
“What the hell?” I yelped, rubbing the sore skin.
Beau dropped his eyes and quietly said, “I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable, Jake. That’s not my intention. Fallon is my friend, a couple of weeks aside.” He shot her a weak smile. “I don’t want to make this difficult for you.”
He focused on his lap as he tore apart a napkin between his hands, looking pathetic.
Fallon glanced at Beau. Her brows dipped sympathetically. “Beau, ear muffs, please.”
Facing me, she frowned something fierce.Shit. I’d gotten myself into trouble.
For a moment, I sincerely thought he would cover his ears. Despite that t-shirt, he maintained some dignity.
“I should… I’ll go. It was nice to see you. Fallon, anyway.” He made to scoot out of the booth. “I’ll stay out of the way. Promise.”
Beau stood beside the table with downcast eyes and pulled his wallet from his pocket. Fallon’s face sank, her light fading slightly as he tossed down some cash.
“Let me get your lunch,” he murmured. “The least I can do for bugging you guys. Stay and enjoy the table.”
“Jake,” she whispered between us. “You’re being rude.”
I realized it then. Or maybe I always recognized it. I don’t know, and it didn’t matter because the truth was written in the disappointment tight around the lines of her mouth. Fallon liked Beau, for better or worse, friends or otherwise. Hating on him wouldn’t earn me any advantages.
Chest pounding never impressed her. Kindness did, though. Decency. Heart and love.
“Stay,” I ground out, the word damn hard to say. “She’s right. I was being rude. My apologies...” Are to her, not you, you fucking lingering tumbleweed.
“No worries, man,” he murmured in that oddly quiet voice. I’d known the guy my entire life. Boisterous, noisy, and rambunctious, Beau was anything but shy or humble.
“I can’t say I would respond much differently if roles were reversed. I’m just happy to have a friend like Fallon. You’ve got a great girl.”
She beamed with stars in her eyes. I swear she whispered, “So mature,” under her breath.
The motherfucker winked at me as Fallon dug through her purse.“You’re smart to want to hold her close,” Beau continued.
Oh. Oh shit. Son of a—
“I’ll get lunch,” Fallon said brightly, sliding out of the booth with her wallet. “You’re staying, right, Beau?”She glanced at me, so hopeful and optimistic and unwise to leave me alone with this charlatan. “Jake? We’re all good. Everybody friends?”
“Mmhm,” I hummed, my hand gripping the fabric of my jeans until the tips of my fingers went numb.
She smiled at me, affection shining in her eyes. Thank you , she mouthed, hurrying toward Anni at the counter.
Beau gave her a little wave when she turned around to check on us. With a thumbs up, I stared at Fallon while speaking low to him.“Ballsy, Dalton.”
His grin stayed steady as he continued waving like a fool. “Thanks, dickface. ”
“Sinister prick,” I whispered before Fallon returned to sit beside me. “Eat shit.”
“Go ahead and die,” he murmured.
Fallon flopped into the booth with a sigh, appearing significantly more pleased since erroneously believing she had resolved the enduring competition between the two apes at her table.
“Guys, I’m going to be honest and say this was not how I imagined the day would go, but it makes my heart happy to know we can be friends.”
I rested my hand on her thigh. “We’re more than friends, baby.”
“Oh, no,” Beau said, an idiotic smile on his stupid-looking face. “That’s flattering, but I’m not into you like that. You’re a bit too alpha-hole for my taste.”He gave Fallon a condoling look. “But the heart wants what the heart wants. That’s no shade to you, Fal.”
My jaw clenched, and the words were equally as tight. “I meant Fallon and me. We’re more than friends.”
“Oh!” Beau gasped, and I didn’t buy that performance for one second. “Good. I’d hate to ruin this budding friendship with confusing feelings.”
“Beau,” Fallon clucked. “Don’t stir the pot.”
“No problem, Beau,” I said stiffly. “I, too, am relieved by this emerging and remarkable camaraderie.”
He bit his lip, holding back a laugh. Goofy fuck. A complete contrast to my tense energy. Which, may the record reflect, existed because of him in the first place.
Fallon shook her head. “I appreciate the effort, fellas, but don’t strain anything. I don’t expect miracles.”
My eyes drifted to Beau, warfare alive in my glare. “All in good fun. Right, Beau?”
Beau snorted. “The funnest.”
I almost believed him; that grin was a goddamn superpower.
The dipshit wouldn’t wear me down, and he sure as shit wouldn’t wear down my girl. What Fallon and I have? It wasn’t just for fun.
It was for keeps.
“If you’re sure,” she said, her fingers lacing with mine. “Promise you won’t murder each other trying to prove a point.”
Beau batted his obscenely long lashes. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“I imagine you’re not staying long,” I said, casually picking at the tear in my jeans.
The tight line of Beau’s lips told me I had touched something tender. Perfect. I knew where to start poking.
“Actually,” he said, “there’s a writer’s strike, and I’ll be here for an indeterminate amount of time.” Smug smile. “I’m using the time to visit with my folks, given it’s such a rarity to have an extended break.” He turned to Fallon. “It’s hard being away from them. Love them so much.” His palm flattened over his heart.
“Cheap,” I muttered under my breath.
Beau didn’t even blink, his brows dipping in confusion. “I’ve no idea what you mean.”
Fallon’s scowl returned. “Jake.”
“How nice to have time with family,” I said thickly, sizing him up to determine where to start with the dismantling of Beau Dalton.
“Yeah,” Beau agreed. “Been a tough couple of years, and being around the good stuff helps balance everything in my head.”
He sounded oddly sincere.
“Finding solid friendships in L.A. can be challenging. That’s why I appreciate you guys. Good for the heart.”
Never mind. That underhanded, scheming jackass.
Good. Fair playing field.
“Why don’t you come to Adam’s bonfire Friday night?” I suggested.
A sweet squeeze of my hand from Fallon and a kiss on the cheek caused my chest to puff. See that, asshole?
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.” Beau’s eyes narrowed as I cupped Fallon’s neck, massaging briefly before my fingers trailed over her shoulder and brushed her arm.
Subtle touches, no different from any other day, except for the looky-loo spying like a creep.
Fantastic. Let me put on a show.
I liked having those eyes on me as I enjoyed my girl, forcing him to watch.
“Nonsense,” I murmured, sliding my finger over her forearm. “Right, baby?”
“Come.” She leaned in his direction. “Please. We were always friends.”
Almost always.
My mouth tugged into a smile. I think. I tried, anyway.
He took a deep breath, his attention on my hand, rubbing Fallon’s thigh beneath the table. “Sure. Yeah. I’ll be there.”
Shit, I forgot how fun it was to fuck with Beau. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.