Page 100 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

I marched toward the table where the remains of dinner indicated they were nearing the end of their time in the restaurant.Timothy turned in his seat, took one long look at me—from the muddy bun to the shirt to the boots.Then his gaze landed on my chest.His face flushed.He burst out laughing.

He pointed at my shirt.“Me too.”His voice lowered when I closed in.“Yours in particular.”

“What about the boots?”I shot back, holding up a foot to rotate the boots.I slid into Amanda’s chair.“Sorry I’m late.Farm call ran long, then Misty puked on me.Clearly, I didn’t check what shirt I grabbed in the panic.”

Timothy was still grinning like this was the greatest thing he’d ever seen.“You smell strongly floral.”

“That’s because underneath it is cow shit and vomit.”I waved down my body.“This,right here, is the sexy stuff of dreams.”

His grin widened.“Shit, boots, and boobs.That’s the girl of my fantasies.”

I snorted so loudly a nearby couple glanced over.Then I doubled over laughing.

Then Timothy’s amusement faded just slightly as he looked past me.He warned, “This is not going to go well if you’re still sitting there when she gets back.”

“I’m sorry I failed at the whole saving you from this.I’m a certifiable hot mess today.”

Right on cue, I heard Amanda’s heels clicking across the floor like the approach of an angry, well-dressed assassin.

“Get out of my seat,” she snipped.

I stood and waved her into her chair.

“What are you doing here?And in that?”She gave me that condescending look like no one would possibly be interested in me.

“Getting takeout.”My eyes didn’t deviate from Timothy.“I need a bath.”Then I leaned in and whispered into his ear so Amanda couldn’t hear.“Thinking I need some help with that.Your place or mine?Text me.”If he agreed, I could talk to him about my father’s text…later.

Then I left.

The text came up thirty seconds later while I was ordering some takeout.

Rye:Mine.Half hour.Let me get Sof to bed.

ChapterThirty-Four

TIMOTHY

“Amanda, I’m calling it a night.”The second we stepped out of the restaurant, I held out my hand, reaching for polite and professional.I wanted something clean enough to end this without bloodshed.

Amanda stared at my hand like it offended her personally.The parking lot lights caught the shine in her eyes.“You promised me a date.”

“I promised dinner,” I said carefully.“I came because I gave my word in order to resolve a crisis.”

Her laugh came sharp and wounded.“Wow.That’s cold.”

“It’s honest.”

“No.”She shook her head, crossing her arms tight over herself.“This is because of Gia.”

I could’ve lied.Probably should’ve.Instead, I looked back through the steakhouse windows where Gia paid for her bag of takeout in that ridiculous shirt, laughing at something the hostess had said while pretending she wasn’t watching me outside the door.

“Honestly?”I admitted quietly.“Yeah.It’s because of Gia this isn’t going further.”

Amanda’s face fell in a way that made me feel a twinge of guilt.

“She showed up reeking and in that shirt,” Amanda snapped.“You can’t possibly be serious.”

Before I could stop it, a smile tugged at my mouth.“That’s kind of the problem.I am serious.”