if the slight downturn of his lips is any indication, he notices that too. “I haven’t pulled the trigger just yet, but I might have found a good candidate. He’s still in high school, so we’d only be able to use him part-time, but I’ll still have more hands on deck, and we need whatever we can get.”
“Are you guys always this busy?”
“We used to only really see a spike in the tourist season, but since the owner of the shop in the next town over retired two years ago, we’re getting all his business. It’s why we finally opened the second location. We’ve just been growing as the town grows. You’ve lived here a couple years now, so you see how much that is.”
“A lot. They’ve put in at least two new subdivisions since I moved down. It doesn’t seem like much to big-city folks, but around these parts, all those new faces stick out.”
“Right! It’s probably why I never noticed noticed you before.”
“You sayin’ I’m nothing special to look at?”
Oh, Sullivan Scott, you’re more than something special. “Eh, you’re okay. I’d still bang the shit out of you though.”
“Really, Althea? I’ve watched you grow up, so that’s as bad as hearing my daughter talk about her sex life. Now I have to go pour hot grease in my ears and pretend I didn’t hear anything.” Simon shakes his head, depositing our drinks, then hurrying away while muttering about how he needs a vacation.
“Althea, huh?” Sully’s brows are raised, intrigued by this new information.
“Ugh,” I groan. “Unfortunately.”
“What’s wrong with Althea? I think it’s cute.”
“It sounds so…old, and just not me.”
“I don’t know, I think it’s pretty unique, and you’re a unique person.”
“That’s mommy-talk for difficult.”
“Mommy-talk?”
“Yeah, like when you’re a kid and you draw some ugly-ass picture and your mom tells you you’re the next Picasso.”
“Picasso wasn’t that great,” he says.
“You know what I mean.”
“I guess.” He takes a sip of his water. “I think you’re full of shit, but whatever.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re so annoying.”
“Annoying, or right?”
“Annoying, but you have a nice ass, so I’ll let it slide.”
“I’m starting to think you just want me for my body, Althea.”
I curl my lip at him. “And I’m starting to think you don’t ever want to touch my body again.”
“Are you threatening me with sex?”
“No. I’m threatening you with no sex.”
“I’ll remember that later when you’re begging me to eat—”
I shove my finger against his lips. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence. We’re in public.”
Like the tease he is, he darts his tongue out, swiping at my finger.
Like the idiot I am, I don’t move away immediately.
I squirm in my seat, recalling what his tongue feels like between my legs.
“Still gonna hold out on me, Thea?”
Fuck no. “Yes.”
He chuckles. “That might be what your mouth is saying, but your body is making a different statement.” He presses forward, never breaking eye contact. “I can see your nipples through your dress.”
“It’s cold in here,” I argue, though we both know that’s bullshit. It’s never cold in Slice, too many bodies packed in for it to get cold.
“I feel like I’m interrupting something here.”
We pull apart, Sully turning toward Simon with an air of ease, like none of this is affecting him.
Jerk.
He refills Sully’s glass. “Your pies will be out in about five minutes. Try not to maul each other in the meantime.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“Yeah, Simon, what’s the fun in that?”
He looks at Sully with hard eyes. “Is her smartass mouth rubbing off on you? You used to be the quiet one. I liked you more then.”
Sully grunts out at a laugh as Simon walks away.
“Ha! I knew I was right pegging you as the quiet one.”
“Don’t forget you called me soulful, too.” A small grin pulls at his lips. “My mom calls me that all the time.”
“Are you two close?”
“We used to be closer. I’m the oldest of three, and shit got rough when my dad was in prison. I was all she had as far as help, but since he came back, it’s been…hard.”
“Wait a minute—your dad came back? Like to your mom? To your house?”
“Yep. My mother took him back.” His knuckles turn to white with how hard he grips the cup in his hand, and I worry if he squeezes any harder, it’ll bust.
My heart aches for him. It’s obvious he loves his mother but struggles with her decision to stick by her husband. I can’t imagine that’s easy for him to witness.
“Oh, Sully. I…I didn’t