Page 44 of Inked Heart
I turn toward her.“What?”
She shrugs slightly.“Emette.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it, though?”
“Yes.”My answer leaves no room for argument.
“Why?”
“Because anyone who spends five minutes around you would have to be an idiot not to like you.”
That earns a small laugh.“Flatterer.”
“Truth teller,” I counter with a small smile of my own.
She glances at me.“You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Say nice things when I’m feeling down.”
“Maybe I just say what I’m thinking.”
“And what are you thinking right now?”
I hesitate because the honest answer is complicated, but the words come out anyway.“I think you deserve someone who makes you laugh like you did earlier today.”
Her eyes soften slightly.“That was a good laugh.”
“The best.”
She studies me for a second longer before she smiles again, a little brighter this time and I realize something.No matter how hard I try to stay out of her relationship, watching Emette hurt her is going to keep pushing my patience closer and closer to the edge.
Because some things a man can tolerate.But seeing a good woman slowly lose her sparkle?That’s not one of them.
