Page 49 of Ruin

Her eyes flash to his huge biceps and then to his face. “Yes, you are,” she says, biting the edge of her lip.

Right. I’m done.

“Blueberry pancakes for me,” I say in a hard tone. “And send them with a different waitress.”

Megan’s eyes flash to mine. I stare hard at her. Her face reddens. Then, she gives me a look of apology, nods, and scurries off.

“You still have it, huh?” Zeus murmurs, seemingly nonplussed.

“What?” My voice is a quiet bite.

“A jealous streak.”

My memory flies back to all those jealous moments I had over women flirting with him. He never once did anything wrong.

Until he did.

“I’m not jealous,” I hiss, furious. “But we’re also in a diner, not a bar. And my daughter is here.”

Zeus actually has the good grace to look guilty. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to—”

“Forget it,” I cut him off.

The atmosphere at the table is awful, so I break it by asking Gigi about her picture. It’s the only thing I can think of to say. My brain’s too full of angry barbs that I want to fire at Zeus at the moment.

“Cam,” a recognizable voice says from beside me.

I turn my head to see Rich standing there in his uniform. “Hey,” I say. “What are you doing here?” I ask nicely.

“Just picking up an order for me and some of the guys at the station. Hey, Gigi.” He gives her a wave.

“Hi, Rich.” She waves back, smiling.

At the mention of Rich’s name, I see Zeus stiffen in my peripheral. If we hadn’t just had the Megan situation, then I would feel awkward about Rich being here. Now, not so much.

Rich’s eyes curiously go to Zeus, recognition sparking in them.

Zeus is openly glaring at him.

Ah, crap.

Okay, so maybe I am feeling a little uncomfortable.

Knowing I have to introduce them, I say, “Rich, this is Zeus Kincaid. Zeus, this is Rich Hastings.”

“I know who you are,” Rich says to Zeus, putting a hand out to shake Zeus’s. “I’m a big fan.”

Zeus looks at his outstretched hand like it’s smeared with the Ebola virus, and then he somewhat reluctantly shakes his hand. Hard, if going by the way Rich flexes his fingers after their handshake.

“Always good to meet a fan,” Zeus says. And I’m pretty sure I detect sarcasm in his voice.

“So, how do you guys know each other?” Rich asks.

“Zweus is an old friend of Mommy’s,” Gigi helpfully says.

“We went to school together,” I clarify, leaving out the part that he was my first love, my first everything. “Zeus is in town, so we’re just catching up.”

“What brings you to Port Washington?” Rich asks him.