Page 80 of Below The Surface
He snorts into his next drink and scowls since he sniffed up some of his drink.
“Asshole.”
“Awe, but I’m your asshole.” I pat his arm and grab him a dishtowel to help clean up his mess.
Casey comes out fresh faced and wearing nice slacks and a plain hunter green shirt.
“Where’s your pizzaz?” Hayden lifts his hands and waves them.
Casey looks down, then at me. “I thought I’d tone it down?” He scrubs a hand through his short hair and looks away.
“You never have to tone yourself down, Kay.”
“Casey,” he says.
Hayden grins. “Oh, I like that. Kay, Casey. Makes sense.”
Casey nods and turns on his heel. “Be right back.”
When he returns, he’s in a pair of glittery gold boots, leggings, a mesh shirt with a hot pink crop top over it, and a bit of smokey shadow across his eyes.
“The colors clash with my hair, but?—”
“You look amazing,” I say.
Hayden nods in agreement. “Damn good.” He lifts his mug and takes another drink.
“Okay, ready for our date?” Casey grabs my hand and leads me to the door.
“Enjoy,” Hayden says.
“I want to be the passenger princess today.” Casey bats his lashes and I open his door for him.
“Sounds perfect.”
As we kiss, Kendra pulls into her spot and whistles. “Get it!”
I round my truck to hop into the driver’s seat. “I think you’ll like what I have planned. We’re going to a trampoline park, then?—”
“No. Absolutely not.”
I blink slowly and turn to him. “Why? I thought you’d enjoy something like that. You have so much energy to burn all the time.”
He shakes his head. “It would be fun, but we’re about to go to Influencer Con and I am not risking a broken limb.”
“I did not think about that.” I tap the wheel. “Okay, that’s all I got.”
He holds up a finger. “One sec.” He searches for something on his phone, then grins. “Okay, follow these directions.” He hands me his phone and I read the directions.
“Where are we going?” I don’t recognize the address.
“We’re gonna paint and drink. It’ll be fun.”
“You remembered I paint.”
“I did. And it’s much,muchsafer than bouncing around with kids. No offense, it’s a great plan, but not great timing. After mermaid season is ideal.” He settles into his seat and I get us started towards our new adventure.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
