I open the door to my apartment and turn to look back down the flight of stairs.
This time, I see that she’s standing at the bottom of them with her arms folded across her chest. She looks pissed, but she also looks like she’s not going to fight me on this which brings some little bit of joy to my heart.
I tip my chin to her. “Cool. Well, you know where to find me then. I’ll see you later this week.”
With that, I head into my apartment and start to mentally prep myself for the long drive to New Mexico that I just committed to like a fucking psycho.
CHAPTER 7
KELSEY
I suckdown a long drink of my margarita, slurping up the last drops through the straw. I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. “I swear these might actually be better than the Frisky Fox spicy margs.”
Jason sets down the pitcher on the coffee table on their apartment balcony, smiling with a hint of pride.
“I’m sure you could make one just as good.” He grins at me, knowing full well that I’ve picked up shifts at various bars around town over the years. As it turns out, making fancy specialty coffee drinks isn’t that different than making cocktails.
I shrug and hum contemplatively. “Maybe, but they just taste better when you make them for us.”
“Fair enough.” He leans down to give Monica a quick kiss. “Let me know when you girls need another round.”
He heads back inside with Felix on his heels, sliding the door shut with a dull thud.
It reminds me of when I lived here with Monica and it was easy to just come upstairs on a break and let Felix out. So until I can afford to live in Jackson again, bringing him with me will have to do. Otherwise, I’d have to get my parents tocheck on him with the long hours I’m gone. I know they would, but I’m stubborn and hate relying on other people.
Felix has always been generally aloof toward men, with the exception of Jason and Sutton. I grumble under my breath at the thought of the latter and how my traitorous dog still worships him. My not so subtle displeasure prompts Monica to raise a brow at me.
“How did those deliveries go?”
I set my drink down and bury my face in my palms. I groan in exasperation before throwing my hands out wide.
“I mean where does he get the fucking audacity?”
She sits back in her chair and crosses her legs. I don’t miss the pleased, smug grin she’s directing at me.
“The audacity to do what exactly?”
I huff and pick my drink back up.
“I don’t know. To just be freakinghimall the damn time.”
She barks a laugh. “Wow. You’re really painting a picture for me.” She looks over the rim of her cocktail glass at me. “Come on. Please, tell me. What’d he do now?”
I take a deep breath and exhale through my nose, muttering into my drink. “He stole my car.”
Her eyebrows shoot up and her eyes widen. “He did what now?”
“He just—” I flail my free hand around in front of me. “Took my car and left.”
“Oh really? He just took it?” She eyes me skeptically. “Who would want to steal that piece of shit?”
“Hey! It’s not a piece of shit. It’s just thoroughly loved.”
She raises her brows at me again. “Yeah. Keep telling yourself that. So where is he now?”
That’s a good question. I know he leaves town all the time, like he can’t be bothered to stay here. Especially in the off season when the restaurant is closed Sunday evening and doesn’t reopen until Wednesday. From thesecond floor balcony, I look into the Teton Mountains to the west and see the sun setting—realizing I’ve really never bothered to wonder where he goes or cared to find out before.
“I don’t know. I just know he’s not here. It’s like he’s dying to leave this place every chance he gets.”