Page 87 of Always Love You More

Smiling, she takes it and says, “You didn’t have to.”

“Baxston!” someone yells.

I scan the room until my eyes land on a table in the far corner and find Mason waving me over.

“You good to sit over there?” I ask Sam. Before she can answer, I add, “Or we can sit wherever you usually do.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t have a table.”

I look down at her, reading the truth those words cover—I don’t have friends.

“Well, you do now,” I tell her.

Stopping in front of the table, all the attention turns to us.

“Hello again.” Mason says, eyeing Sam.

She hasn’t been around the guys since that time she came with me and Billy to the park.

“Hey,” Sam answers, sliding into an empty chair.

Glancing from her to me, Mason questions, “So, is this”—he waves his hand—“like a thing?”

I cock my head. “A thing?”

“’Cause, if not …”

Rowan shakes his head and mutters, “You’re an idiot.”

Billy comes up behind him and drops into the seat next to Sam. “Hey!” he says, looking between us all. “What’s up?”

“Mason’s looking to get his ass beat,” Rowan answers.

Billy gives him a questioning look, and Rowan juts his chin forward, motioning to me and Sam. “Just asked Jameson if they’re a thing.”

Billy barks out a laugh.

“What?” Mason asks defensively.

“You got eyes?” Billy asks.

Mason grumbles. “Yeah.”

Billy pushes the food around on his tray. “So use ’em.” He points his fork at us. “They’re clearlya thing.”

“Well, how am I supposed to know?” he says. “It’s Jameson we’re talking about.”

I turn toward him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, man. You’re just …”

Rowan snorts.

“I’m what?”

Dylan comes up to the table, his focus instantly going to Sam.

“Jesus,” I mutter. “You’re all acting like you’ve never seen a girl before.”