Page 44 of Good For Me

River

What the fuck was that?

I stand at the counter for a long moment, staring at Jasmine’s retreating back. At least, I’m pretty sure it was Jasmine’s back. She sprinted away so quickly it’s hard to be sure.

Bullshit,I tell myself. I knew it was her the second I saw Brie dart back to the counter to talk to someone. And as soon as the other waitress moved from behind the soda machine, as soon as I locked my gaze with those grey eyes, I knew.

Shit, Jasmine ishere. All these weeks thinking about her and then out of nowhere I run into her. At a random diner at two o’clock in the morning.

Throwing up in the back, apparently, if the way she ran out of here with a hand slapped over her mouth is any indication.

“What’s wrong with her?” I demand. “Is she sick?”

Brie’s expression somehow turns even angrier. “I should beat the shit out of you right here,” she growls. It shouldn’t be scary—I have nearly a foot on the girl—yet somehow I have a feeling she just might be able to do it.

But I have no idea why she wants to.

“What for, exactly?” I ask.

She gapes at me, her anger apparently making her incapable of speech for a few seconds. “Youleft,” she finally hisses.

I frown. “You’re pissed because my leaving gave Dave some scheduling problems?”

“I don’t give a shit about Dave’s bar,” she snaps. She jabs a finger over her shoulder. “I care abouther. That girl.” She leans across the counter toward me. “She’s my sister. Closer than blood. And I swear to God, I will ruin anyone who hurts her. I don’t give a shit who your father is.”

Then she marches off, following Jas, and leaving me even more confused than I’d been before.

“Riv?”

I turn to see Fox and everyone else gaping at me from our table. I rub a hand through my hair, wondering what the hell is going on here, then walk back to the group.

“Who was that?” Everly asks, her blue eyes wide.

“A girl I used to work with,” I mutter, collapsing into my seat. It’s not a total lie. “And her friend.”

“They don’t seem to be big fans of yours, man,” Wyatt says carefully.

“I guess not.”

An awkward silence descends on the table, everyone watching me, waiting for me to say more. I have no idea what to say, though. I have no idea why Brie is so pissed, no idea why Jas ran off like that. She was the one who told me it was only one night. So why am I taking the blame for leaving?

“Were you mean to her?” Everly finally blurts out.

“No,” I snap, glaring at her. “Jesus, Lele. I’m notmeanto women.”

“You might not think you’re being mean,” she says. “But if they think there might be a chance for more, and you go and pull your usual player bullshit they might feel—”

“That’s not what happened,” I say through gritted teeth.

“How do you know?” Alex presses gently. “You’re not very good at picking up on the signs when girls really like you.”

A bitter laugh bursts from me. She has no idea how much time I spent watching Jas like a fucking creeper, desperate for any sign that she might really like me.

“You have it wrong,” I say flatly. “I was a rebound for her. The only time we hung out outside of work was the night she broke up with her boyfriend. She just needed some cheering up—”

“Oh my God,” Everly gasps. “That’s the girl you took to The Purple Cat! The girl Grandma and Grandpa were texting everyone about.”

I groan. Leave it to Everly to have an annoyingly perfect memory even when she’s trashed.