want to act like you’re happy to see her for God’s sake.”
“I don’t need your fucking help with dating,” Preacher said.
Lucas laughed and clapped him on the back. “Buddy, if this is you trying to make a good impression with the lady you like, then you do. You really do.”
Chapter Nineteen
“How long is your supper break?” Gideon slid into the booth at Nan’s, adjusting his vest and turning down the radio on his belt.
“I’m done for the day,” Preacher said.
“It’s only five.”
“My client was scheduled for four hours, asshole tapped out after two,” Preacher said.
“Hey, Sheriff.” Georgia, a curvy redhead with a warm smile and a penchant for cursing that outmatched Preacher’s, stopped at their booth. She wore a Nan’s Diner t-shirt with a name tag just above her left breast, an apron around her waist, and she held a notepad in her left hand.
A slender blonde woman wearing an identical t-shirt and apron stood beside her holding a tray in her hands. She set the beer on the tray in front of Preacher who nodded in thanks.
“Hi, Georgia. Nice to see you,” Gideon said.
“You too. This is Wren. She’s the new server Nan hired.”
Gideon shook Wren’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” Wren was soft-spoken and pretty, but Preacher barely gave her a second look. His obsession with Addison meant that he compared every woman in Harmony Falls to her, and every single one of them failed to do a thing for him.
“Are you ready to order?” Georgia asked.
“Sure.” Gideon placed his order and Preacher ordered a steak sandwich and salad. He needed to eat something. After Addison left the shop, his appetite had disappeared, and he’d put the lunch he’d bought in the fridge. Despite not eating all day, he still wasn’t hungry, but he’d choke down the food. The headache was lurking in the background and not eating was a sure way to turn it into a goddamn migraine.
“You ever get tired of eating at Nan’s?” Gideon said.
Wren was already returning with Gideon’s iced tea and she refilled Preacher’s water glass before leaving.
“No,” Preacher said. “The food’s good here.”
“The food is amazing,” Gideon said. “But it’s nice to have a home-cooked meal every once in a while.”
“I go to your place when I want a home-cooked meal.”
“A slab of meat thrown on the grill and some potato salad from the grocery store isn’t exactly a home-cooked meal,” Gideon said.
“Your cooking has gotten a lot better since Grace moved in with you,” Preacher said.
Gideon laughed. “It’s all her. She’s an amazing cook.”
Preacher took a sip of his beer, waiting to see if his churning stomach would protest. It did and with a grimace, he set the bottle down.
“What’s going on with you?” Gideon said.
“I fucked up.”
“How?”
“With Addison. I hurt her feelings.”
Gideon waited patiently. There was no judgement on his face and Preacher felt another rush of love and gratitude toward his best friend.
“We’re still sleeping together,” he said.
Surprise crossed Gideon’s face. “Grace didn’t mention it to me.”
“She doesn’t know. At least I don’t think she does. Addison said she wouldn’t tell Grace or Kira.”
“You’re keeping it a secret,” Gideon said.
“I didn’t ask her to keep it a secret,” Preacher said. “She wants it to be a secret.”
Anger furrowed Gideon’s forehead. “Why? If she’s embarrassed to be seen with you, then she doesn’t deserve to be with you, Preacher. Don’t sell yourself short just because you think you don’t deserve someone like Addison Moore. She’s not better than you no matter what you fucking think and -”
“Christ, calm down,” Preacher said. “It has nothing to do with that.” His tone was exasperated, but fuck if he didn’t appreciate how Gideon always had his back.
“Then why the secret?”
“Because it’s just fucking. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Still doesn’t mean it has to be a secret. People have casual relationships all the time,” Gideon said.
“Yeah, I know.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Gideon leaned forward.
“Sometimes I hate that you’re a fucking cop,” Preacher said. “You can’t leave shit alone.”
“True,” Gideon said with a grin. “So, you might as well tell me what I want to know.”
Preacher glanced around the diner. It was crowded and the hum of multiple conversations would mask their conversation if he kept his voice low. “She doesn’t want people knowing because you know as well as I do that she’s usually not the type of girl to have casual sex, and also because she asked me to give her lessons on fucking and she’s embarrassed about it.”
“Oh.” Gideon took