Chapter 29

“Oh yeah. Sort of. Meeting Evy.”

“Ah.” That was all Stuart needed to say. One little syllable and it became obvious in his tone that he also thought Mark was doing a good thing.

“Hey, I could be on a date for all you know,” he said reflexively.

Stuart turned around and looked at him with a brow raised. “Just for that, the first round’s for free, buddy. I’m not letting you pay for your own delusions.”

“What does that even mean?”

“She’s not your type. Besides, she’s taken, despite her girlfriend being in Puerto Rico still.” Stuart’s tone was so matter-of-fact that it almost made Mark recoil.

Did everyone in this town think he was gay? Because it wasn’t Evy’s dreadlocks Stuart was talking about, for sure.

Mark grunted, tossed back the whiskey as soon as Stuart put it in front of him, and then grabbed the bowl of pretzels closest to him. He slid off the stool and carried the bowl and his beer to the booth farthest from the card table.