Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

about trying to be together? There has to be a rational explanation, but hell if I
can think of one. It’s too much for my brain.
Pulling his ball cap lower, Ren sets his hand on the young woman’s back and
gently guides her in front of him while they’re led by the hostess to be seated.
His eyes dance across the space as he notices people looking at him, talking to
themselves. I turn around and dive deeper into the booth.
“Who’s that with him?” Annie asks.
“I don’t know.” I have no idea what to make of what I’m seeing, except that
Ren’s standing side by a side with a woman who’s as striking as he is and who
most likely doesn’t have a mountain of personal issues.
Unlike me. The fries and milkshake curdle in my stomach. This is what
jealousy feels like. I hate it.
Annie sighs. “You’re being ridiculous, hiding like that. It’s pointless. He’s
going to see you. It’s not like this is a big diner.”
“Whyyy,” I whine. “Why didn’t we go to In-N-Out?”
“Because Betty’s Diner makes the best fries. There was never a question of
going anywhere else.”
I groan as I rub my forehead. “My shit luck.”
“Stop being such a Moaning Myrtle. Oh, I think he just saw me.” Annie
glances down at me and smiles, her cheeks pink. “Okay. I’m playing it cool. It’s
just hottie-pants Ren—”
“Hottie-pants Ren?”
She shushes me. “I’d sit up if I were you. You’re going to look like a weirdo,
slumped over in the booth when he comes over and says hi.”
I’m just straightening when I see Ren walking my way, icy eyes sparkling
from beneath the shadow of his baseball cap.
Ren. Ball cap. Beard.
Guh.
Someone in a nearby booth lifts their phone, and he deftly switches sides so
the woman he’s with is shielded from the shameless oglers.
Who is she?
“I’m okay,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m okay.”
“Just breathe, Frankie,” Annie says quietly.
“Frankie.” Ren smiles down at me, then glances over to Annie. “Hey, Annie.
How are you?”
Annie smiles up at him, turns bright pink, and bats her eyelashes. “Um, yes.”
I roll my eyes. “Hey, Ren.”
Ren turns slightly, wrapping his arm around the woman’s back, setting his
hand on her shoulder.