She rolled her eyes as Jim laughed. “Dude, you know Blake is going to hit on her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries to talk her into a quickie in the bathroom.
Charlie huffed. “Kaelynn doesn’t seem the type to be into a guy like Blake.”
“Agreed, but if you’re interested in her, letting Blake get the upper hand is not smart,” Terri stated.
“I’m not interested in her that way. She’s a friend of Morgan’s, so she’s a friend of mine. Morgan would probably kick my ass anyway . . . Well, I mean if I was intere
sted in her in that way.”
All four of my friends stared at me like they knew the words coming out of my mouth were bullshit.
Charlie reached across the table the best she could with her stomach preventing her from getting closer to me. “Nash, it’s time to move on. Open yourself up to someone. Not all women are going to treat you like Lily did.” Charlie looked at Tucker and said, “Sorry, babe.”
He held up his hands and said, “You won’t get an argument from me on the behavior of Lily. I’m still pissed at her.”
I let out a breath and gave her hand a light squeeze. “I appreciate you being concerned, Charlie, but I’m fine. I’m not looking to get involved with anyone. Besides, she’s Morgan’s good friend, and who knows how long Kaelynn will even live here? Starting up something with her would be the wrong move.”
Charlie looked disappointed in me as she let go of my hand and leaned back in the booth.
“That has got to be the worst excuse I’ve ever heard. Like seriously the worst.”
“I agree,” Terri said.
The waitress came and cleared our table, and I couldn’t help myself. I glanced over toward the restrooms.
Where in the hell were they? Was Jim right? Had Blake put a move on Kaelynn and they were now steaming up the bathroom mirrors as we speak?
Finally, Kaelynn emerged with Blake next to her. She laughed at something he said. I couldn’t help the frown that quickly appeared on my face.
“Don’t worry, dude, Blake isn’t that fast, and a smart woman would know how full of shit he is,” Jim said with a chuckle. Terri hit him on the chest while I shot him a dirty look.
Stopping at the table, Kaelynn smiled as she looked at me and then Charlie.
“I better get going. I’ve got to drive to Houston tomorrow to meet with a client.”
“What? We were going to go get coffee. Since my plan of laughing this baby out tonight didn’t happen, I’m thinking coffee might do the trick,” Charlie stated with perfect assurance.
Kaelynn laughed. “I wish I could, but I really need to be going.”
“Do you need a ride home?” I asked.
“I already offered, dude,” Blake stated, his hands in his pockets and a shit-eating grin on his face.
My eyes darted over to Kaelynn. Her cheeks turned slightly red. “Thank you for the offer, though.”
Blake placed his hand on her lower back as he said, “Y’all behave tonight.”
I stared at him, wishing I could jump up and punch him. I didn’t care that in that moment he was one of my best friends.
“Well, looks like maybe Blake did have enough time after all,” Terri said as I looked back at the table.
Forcing a smile, I shrugged. “If Blake is what does it for her, then I guess he’s going to be getting lucky tonight.”
Charlie huffed. “I haven’t known Kaelynn long, but she doesn’t seem like the type of woman to go off and have a one-night stand with Blake.”
It took every ounce of power I had to keep the neutral expression on my face when I reached for my beer and finished it off. “I’m going to head out. Good luck on trying to get the little bugger out of there. Call me when that happens, okay?”
Charlie smiled but there was a bit of sadness in her eyes. “Thanks, will do.”