Page 27 of Inked Heart
He gestures vaguely toward the front of the shop where Quinn stands.“She deserves better than Emette.”
“I fucking know that.”
“So does more than half the town.”
“Still not my problem.”
Laine raises an eyebrow.“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“Because you looked pretty ready to punch him in the face last night.”
I grimace slightly.That’s another thing about small towns.Nothing stays private.
“You heard about that, too?”
“Luke’s cousin was in the grocery store.”
Of course he was.Franklinton apparently has the best gossip network in the country.
“It wasn’t a fight,” I say.
“He called her stupid.”
My hands curl slightly against the edge of the desk.“I was there.”I glare at my brother.
“And you didn’t punch him.”
“I wanted to.”
“Growth,” Laine says approvingly.
I shake my head.“You’re missing the point.”
“Which is?”
“This isn’t my situation to fix.”
Laine studies me for a long moment.Then he nods slowly.“You’re right.”
“I know.”
“But...”
I groan.“There’s always a but.”
“But feelings don’t care about logic.”
“I’m not acting on anything.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
I lean forward and reopen the laptop.“Then we’re done here.”
“Sure.”Laine pushes away from the desk and heads back toward his booth.But just before he disappears, he pauses.
“Damien,” he says casually.
