The Runaway (Barrett Boys #1) - Jordan Ford Page 0,10
him, and I hope they stay together forever.
Franks grins up at me, her expression warning me that something big is coming.
“It’s worse than that, Annie.” She cringes.
My eyebrows dip. “Oh yeah?”
“He’s stealing me away.”
“He’s…” My dipping eyebrows shoot high as a gasp rushes out of me. “You guys got in? Both of you?”
“Yes! There was a letter waitin’ for me when I got home.” Franks screams her delight, jumping up to wrap me in a hug. I squeeze tight, for a second wondering how I’m gonna let go.
She got in.
My girl got into college. Just like she wanted. She’s goin’ off with the man she loves.
She pulls out of the hug, squeezing my shoulders and giving me a sad smile. “I just hate that I’m leavin’ you.”
“No. No. Don’t.” I point at her and shake my head. “You’re not allowed to be sad. This is good. This is happy.” I swallow, pulling my lips into a smile while I gently guide her back into the booth.
Great. Now Billy’s got his sappy eyes on too.
I give him a pointed scowl, but his smile just gets sadder and more heartfelt.
“I’ve got my exit plan, you guys. It’s gonna be okay. I’m fine.”
“How’s that going?” Billy asks.
“Oh, you know.” I hitch my shoulder. “He screams at me for not bringing in enough tips.” I wiggle my eyebrows at them, hoping to hide the fact that he does more than scream sometimes. I’ve never told a living soul what Dean can be like. Not even my best friend.
Billy picks up his menu. “You still pocketing half?”
“Figure I’ve earned it.”
“You’ve earned all of it.” He scowls. “You should be taking it all.”
“And get herself into even more trouble? No way.” Franks shakes her head. “You play it safe.”
I swallow and bob my head. “I reckon in about two or three years, I’ll have enough.”
“Two or three?” Franks forgets about picking up her menu and gives me a shocked look that makes her nose scrunch up all funny.
I smile at her, loving every inch of that beautiful face.
“I can’t leave Jackson. You know that. I’ve got to save enough for the both of us. It’s gonna be okay.” I squeeze her shoulder and pull out my pad. “Now, what are you two—”
“Annie!”
I flinch, then quickly smooth out my expression.
Dean’s bark always makes me jump, and I hate that.
“That’s me.” Forcing a cheerful smile, I wink at my best friend and spin around so I can face a man I’ve grown to hate. Not that I’ll let anyone in this diner know it. Like I’m gonna give Dean the upper hand. As best I can, I never let him ruffle my feathers.
Breezing around tables, I come to a stop in the archway leading through to the bar. Dean’s standing there with his arms crossed, his broad shoulders and powerful muscles making me feel smaller than I already am.
Flicking his head to the side, he orders me around the corner, so the people in the diner can’t see him yelling at me.
I lean against the wall and keep my gaze forward, staring straight into the devil’s eyes on his T-shirt. It’s one of his favorites—a dancing red Satan on white cotton. He only wears it when he’s working the bar. Maybe he thinks it makes him cool. I wish I could tell him it doesn’t.
“Stop letting your stupid friends distract you or I won’t let them come here anymore.”
“You can’t stop them from coming in. This is a public diner,” I whisper-bark. “Besides, I was just taking their order.”
“Bullshit!” he snaps, pointing at the floor with his big fat finger. “You’re here to work. You see them on your own time.”
A mocking scoff pops out of me before I can stop it. “I don’t have any of my own time thanks to you.”
His dark eyes narrow, that square chin of his dipping low as he bends down to get in my face. “Are you sassin’ me?”
A cold prickle sweeps through me, cutting off my air supply for a second. My mouth is filling up with sharp, spiky words that I want so badly to unleash. But the consequences of my unruly tongue nip at the back of my brain, helping me to keep my lips together and shake my head.
“What’d you say?” His deep growl makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention.
Gritting my teeth, I swallow the acid burning my throat and look him in the eye. “No, sir. I wasn’t sassin’ you.”