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“It’s not my fault they all find me irresistible,” Blake said, sitting down next to Celia.
She didn’t bother edging her plate away, letting him steal another fry. She’d never eat them all.
“That’s why they all left then, huh?” Katie set all the salt shakers she’d collected at the end of the bar. “Seems like they resisted just fine.”
Blake smirked at her. “Oh, that’s always after they’ve already given in to my charms.”
Katie let out a snort. “So it’s more that you’re that bad, then. Is it that you send them all running in horror, or just disappointment?”
“Neither. You’ll never find out for yourself, Katie, so stop acting jealous.”
“Jealous!” Malcolm’s sister’s face went scarlet.
Celia focused on the sandwich in front of her, forcing herself to take a bite. The two of them were as normal as ever. They’d picked at each other ever since Malcolm had stood up for Blake back when. She hadn’t been around for that, but had heard the story often enough. The number of other boys they had faced together increased with each telling.
Malcolm had already moved down the bar to step between the two. “Enough, both of you.” He set his hands on the bar, and Celia checked for new scabs or nicks. She hadn’t seen any all week, to her relief. Malcolm was a brawler, but only when he felt like someone deserved it. She’d half expected him to go after Daniel, but it seemed he had left well enough alone. It was a strange quality in someone who was always so caring, but he also had a temper. Mainly when it came to injustice, like a bunch of boys picking on someone.
Trenton was a different type of caring. She couldn’t picture him hurting anyone. He’d sooner soothe them all with a kind word and a few pats on the shoulder.
Celia pictured a group hug between all the boys while she ate one of the fries.
“Ooh, who are you thinking about while wearing such a smile?” Blake asked her, tilting his head with his own knowing grin.
Celia choked on her fry, coughing and reaching for her drink to take a gulp, and to avoid answering. If she admitted it was Trenton, Blake would never let her hear the end of it.
“Not everyone is like you, Blake, thinking about the opposite sex all the time,” Katie said, actually helping Celia out for once.
Blake tweaked the other woman’s nose. “There’s no one else like me, princess.”
“Thank God,” Malcolm and Katie said in unison, then laughed with each other.
Blake held a hand to his heart. “How you both wound me! Come on, Celia, you don’t feel that way, do you?”
She was just glad the conversation had moved on. “I doubt God had any part in making you,” she said, lifting her sandwich again.
Blake stared at her before chuckling. “I didn’t expect that from you. The princess, sure, but you’ve always seemed so sweet.”
“You just don’t know her very well,” Katie said, capping one of the salt shakers harder than needed.
“Maybe not,” Blake said with a thoughtful hum. He leaned closer, his words brushing against Celia’s ear. “But has Trent uncovered this mean streak?” he whispered.
Celia jerked away from him even as he stole another fry.
“Blake!” Malcolm snapped. “Didn’t I just ask you to leave my waitresses alone?”
“No worries with these two,” Blake said, waving his stolen food to point at Katie and then back to Celia. “I doubt they’ll leave you in the lurch.”
“Not that you have a chance with us, anyway,” Katie muttered as she collected the salt shakers in her arms.
“Much to your disappointment, I know when my friend’s relatives are untouchable,” Blake called after her retreating back.
“I hope you’re serious about that.” Malcolm studied his friend with a frown.
“I’m rarely serious.” Blake munched on the fry. “But I can take a hint, and you’ve glared daggers at me before with these two.”
Malcolm sighed. “Please tell me you’ve made progress upstairs and I’m a little closer to having you out of my hair.”
“And what flowing locks you have.” Blake snickered, but his smile faded. “You’ve got a mess up there, Malcolm.” At the returned glare from his friend, he slid off the bar chair. “But I’m back at it. I might work a little harder if I knew some of those fries would be waiting for me.”
