Page 67 of The Bluffing Game

“Available,” Lucia mutters under her breath. “It says available. You have to ask for it.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll get you a veggie burger to make up for it. Can’t have you sitting here with a frown.”

I look at my watch. It’s eight p.m., and I feel a slight burden of guilt as I sit across the table from Brett at Kettle King.

“Didn’t you say you had to get back home?” he says, chugging the last of his beer.

“Sage is looking after Toby for me. It’s okay.”

I don’t mention to him that she had a date this evening. I don’t mention to him that I should have been back home hours ago. I don’t feel like I’m sabotaging her dating life, but a part of me doesn’t want her going on another date. Part of me is scared she will meet someone, fall in love, and I won’t even have a shot. A shot at what? I don’t know, since I am not looking for love or marriage, and I don’t have close to the amount of money she is looking for in a partner. But there is just something so easy in the way that we converse, in the way that we smile at each other.

“So, I’m going to speak to Toby’s mom tomorrow.” Brett leans forward. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

“I think you should handle this. I think maybe I’m the last person she wants to see right now.”

“Maybe,” he says. “But you could definitely explain to her better how much Toby needs her.”

“I think that, right now, it should just be you.”

I look down at my phone. I have another missed call from Sage and several text messages. I let out a sigh. “I trust you, Brett. You’ve never let me down, and you know how important this is. You know everything Toby’s been through. You know everything I’ve been through.”

“You’re a good guy—you know that, right, Dalton?” He gives me a rare smile. “Not many men would’ve stepped up as you did.”

“I felt like it was my responsibility, you know?”

“It wasn’t though.”

“But it was,” I say and stand up. “Anyway, I should get out of here. Duty calls and all that. I have a feeling Sage might be a little bit upset with me.”

“Oh, I hope not.” He leans back. “How’s her sister, by the way?” he says casually.

“Who, Rosie?” I ask him, grinning. “Why? You got an interest in her?”

“No, not at all. She is definitely not the sort of woman I would ever have any dalliance with, but I was just curious.”

“Uh-huh,” I say, grinning. “You should ask her on a date or something.”

“No way,” he says. “She is not the sort of woman who should date a man like me. She’s way too light and bubbly and carefree, and we both know that’s the exact opposite of me.”

“But you know what they say, opposites attract.”

“Have you asked out her sister?” He leans forward, crossing his arms, his eyes narrowed.

“No. Why would I?”

“For the same reason you’re telling me that I should ask Rosie out.”

“Touché. I suppose we’re both right. Neither one of us is right for these women.”

“Exactly,” he says. “Doesn’t mean we don’t care about making sure they’re safe and doing well.”

“You’re making sure that Rosie is safe?”

“Not actively. Is there something she’s doing that she needs protection from? I mean, aside from this crazy dating app.”

“Ha. Anyway, I really should get going.” I hold up the phone and show him that Sage is calling again. “I have a feeling she’s upset with me. You keep me updated about tomorrow?”

“Will do, boss. I’ll see you later.”