Page 81 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

“Andrew, wait.” I tugged on his shirtsleeve and he finally stopped, spinning in place to face me. His cheeks were red and he looked upset.

“Look, would you do something for me if I asked you to?”

“Of course,” I said automatically. I really couldn’t imagine him asking me to do something that I would want to refuse. Then he opened his mouth.

“Don’t go out with that guy.”

“What?”

“Don’t go out with Chase.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think he’s a jerk, Riley. I think he’s using you. I think he wants to get himself on TV or get himself in good with his bosses or—”

“Andrew, you’re being ridiculous!”

“Look what happened with the flash mob. Like it was a coincidence that he just happened to suggest holding it at the hotel.”

“Okay, Jenny is the one who suggested we have it there. Chase just helped out. And that idea saved our ass, I might add. It was the perfect solution for the challenge.”

“I just don’t trust him!” Andrew looked really agitated now. “He’s going to hurt you.”

“Well, that will be my problem then, won’t it?”

He scowled. “No, it won’t. I’ll be the one to pick up the pieces when he breaks your heart.”

It was funny. Just a few minutes ago I had been thinking about how much I relied on him. Now all I could think about was how much I wanted to punch him in the face.

“If I’m that much of an inconvenience to you, I’ll be sure to call my sister the next time I need the help.”

I moved to pass him to go inside, but he planted himself in the middle of the sidewalk and wouldn’t let me pass.

“You said you would do it if I asked you.”

“I didn’t think you were going to try to control my dating life, Andrew! That’s—it’s just weird!”

“I’m not trying to control your—” He ran his hands over his face, clearly frustrated. “I just don’t like this guy. I have a bad feeling.”

“And if I told you that I didn’t like one of the girls that you were hooking up with, you’d be cool with that?” I asked, thinking, for some reason, about Jill. “Yeah, right.”

“Of course I would!” he practically shouted. “Because I trust your judgment. If you told me you thought a girl was bad news, I would absolutely listen.”

I crossed my arms, not believing a word of it. “Really?”

“Really.”

I sighed. “Andrew, I don’t know about this. I kind of like him. He’s nice to me—”

“Because he wants something!”

“Okay, you’re acting nuts and I’m going inside.”

“Riley—”

“We can talk about this later, Andrew.” I pushed past him, relieved when he let me. “When you’re not acting like such a nut job. Thanks for a nice dinner.”

I didn’t look back until I was in the foyer. He was still standing there, exactly where I had left him, his hands thrust in his pockets.

What in the hell is his deal?I wondered as I made my way up the stairs. I knew that he didn’t like the guys that worked at the hotel—I usually didn’t either—but a temper tantrum about it was excessive, even for Andrew. Hell, his brother had just gotten engaged to a man who had first come to the island to work at that hotel.

When I got up to my apartment, I peeked out the front curtains, not really sure what to expect. But Andrew was gone, the sidewalk below empty in the darkness.