Page 35 of Loving Kai

He folded his arms across his chest. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I think it is.”

“Fine. Carry whatever you want. Do whatever you want.”

Gentry walked up to them and took Abe’s arm. “Thank you, Maggie. You do good work.”

She nodded at him, glared at Abe, then resumed filling the cooler.

Gentry kept hold of Abe’s arm and pulled him to the back of the kitchen.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I don’t want her to…” He sighed. “Dammit, I’ll go apologize to her.”

“You’ve been like this all week.”

“I’ve just been a little confused.”

“About what?”

“Nothing. I’ll go talk to Maggie.”

Gentry took his arm again. “Are you two dating?”

“What? No.” Gentry cocked his head, and Abe added. “Seriously, no.”

“Well, something is going on between you two.”

Abe scowled. “You think I’d act like this with someone I was dating?”

“You’re overcompensating. You get comfortable, then you turn around and attack, like you’re running scared. I can’t think of anything that would scare you more than being in a relationship with someone like Maggie.”

“Do you really think she’s dumb enough to go out with me?”

“Do you want her to go out with you?”

Abe sighed, then glanced toward Maggie, who had left the cooler to welcome some new customers across the room. “We…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“Abe, just tell me, man. I’m going to find out sooner or later. I’ll talk to her if I have to.”

“No, don’t.” He glanced at her again. “During the storm, she stayed with me when she got evacuated.”

“Right.” Abe shrugged, and Gentry shook his head. “You didn’t.”

“We did. A few times, actually.” He stared at the white linoleum floor for a moment. “It was…”

Gentry held up a hand. “I don’t want to know. How’d you leave things?”

“We both agreed that it would go no further.”

“I commend you for that, at least. But it seems perhaps you're regretting that agreement?”

“No.”

“Maybe just a little bit?”

Abe took a moment. “She and I long term would never work. We want different things. On the other hand, I can’t stop thinking about what if.”