Page 2 of Catch a Tiger

“Hear that Darius?” Maria says over her shoulder. “Chase approves.”

Darius is always talking about how he gets shit for being gay all the time. He doesn’t look gay, and that’s the problem. Women are always falling for his good looks and charm.

Darius looks over at them, having fulfilled the last order, and started typing on his phone. “Approves of what?” He pockets his phone and crosses the short distance to them.

Rotating her wrist, Maria waves him off. “Oh, nevermind.”

Chase chuckles again. She’s always liked his soft laugh. “So, who can we set you up with then?”

Maria’s brows pinch together. “No one. I don’t want a boyfriend.” It’s a blatant lie and they both see right through it.

“Bullshit,” Chase barks.

Sighing, resigning to the fact that she’d been caught fibbing, she admits, “Okay, so maybe you’re right, but there’s one problem.”

They stare at her, waiting for her to relay this problem. She sighs and gestures to her size. Maria is no small girl. She gained a bunch of weight in college and hasn’t been able to get it off.

“I don’t get it,” Chase says after a moment. “You’re single. Purple hair isn’t my thing, but that’s what seems to be popular now. And you got looks and those striking blue eyes to boot. What is the problem?”

Darius rolls his eyes. “She thinks she’s too fat for a boyfriend.”

Maria’s cheeks heat up and she glances at the bar beside her hip. “Exactly.”

She’s had boyfriends, but they always tried to change her into what they wanted her to be: a skinny girl. A few times, she tried going to the gym, but the relationships never lasted, so she quit working out. Maybe she should have kept it up. She could be skinny by now and with a boyfriend on her arm.

“That’s foolish,” Chase grumbles.

Maria shrugs one shoulder. “It’s just the truth.”

He points at her. “You should be proud of your body.”

“It’s what I’ve been saying,” Darius chimes in.

She pokes the bar top with her pointer finger. “But I’m not, and the men aren’t, so here I am.”

Darius mumbles under his breath, throws up his hands, and goes to bus a table.

Chase finishes his drink and stands up. “Well, I think you’re beautiful.”

“Thanks, Chase. Sure you don’t want to take me on a date?” She wiggles her eyebrows at him and places her palms on the counter. She’s hiding behind humor, something she’s completely good at. Talking about her weight makes her uncomfortable and she tries not to show people just how much.

“Nice try. You’ll find someone.” He reaches and pats one of her hands. “I’ve got to jet. You be good, you hear? Don’t get into any trouble while I’m gone.”

She smiles warmly at him. “I’ll try not to. Same time tomorrow?”

He returns the smile. “I wouldn’t miss it,” he says before turning, striding across the floor, and exiting The Brew.

Maria watches the space he once occupied, nibbling on her bottom lip, but when Darius sneaks up behind her and taps her shoulder, she jumps. She swivels to face him, her hand over her heart. “Jesus, Darius.”

He shakes his head but then turns somber. “He’s right, you know.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

He shakes his head again. “You don’t believe us, do you?”

“Not a single word,” she says immediately because they’re absolutely one hundred percent wrong.

He sighs through his nose. “You’ll find someone.”