Read Saving Tatum (Trace + Olivia #4) for Free Online Page B

food.” My protests went unheard as I dug through my backpack for the money I kept stashed there.
    He handed the lady working at the window his credit card and tilted his head to look at me. “Last time I checked, it was the gentlemanly thing to do.”
    “Last time I checked,” I countered, smiling despite the fact that I shouldn’t be enjoying this at all, “there was nothing gentlemanly about you.”
    “Touché,” he chuckled heartily, scratching his chin as he waited for her to hand him his card and the receipt.
    Once he had it he pulled up to the next window where they handed us our food.
    He busted out in laughter at the sound I made upon smelling the food. I was starved and the smell of a greasy cheeseburger was calling my name. I didn’t think I had ever wanted anything more than I wanted that burger.
    I set my food in my lap and handed Jude his so he could eat as he drove. He promptly shoved a handful of fries in his mouth, chewing loudly. The fries stuck out of his mouth like the tentacles of an octopus. I couldn’t help laughing. “What?” He asked around the mouthful. He took a large sip of his soda and said, “Isn’t this how everyone eats their fries?”
    “No,” I shook my head, eating one single fry to make a point.
    He shrugged. “I’m a man and that’s how we eat fries.”
    “Maybe if you were a caveman,” I mumbled u nder my breath, but he heard me even over the music blasting from the radio.
    “Cavemen didn’t have the convenience of drive-thru’s or the salty deliciousness of French fries.”
    At his words I realized I would never win in an argument with Jude. Well, more like neither one of us would win. We were both far too argumentative and neither of us would back down.
    I took a bite of my burger, unable to hold back a moan. I really needed to stop forgetting to eat. It wasn’t healthy.
    As I chewed, I watched Jude out of the corner of my eye and noticed him squirming in his seat. “What are you doing?” I asked, and then when he explained I really wished I hadn’t.
    “I’m a guy, and when you make noises like that I can’t stop my reaction.”
    My eyes flicked down and then away. “Oh,” was all I could say. I could have come back with something rude, but then I would’ve looked like an idiot and I didn’t want to argue with him anymore. Especially since I still had to spend the majority of my evening with him.
    Jude parked in the back lot of the nursing home and we finished our meal in silence. He looked longingly at my Oreo McFlurry, and I told him, “You should’ve gotten one.”
    “And maybe you should share.” He suggested with a coy smile, like if he flirted with me it would make me willingly give up the most delicious substance on Earth. I was pretty sure ice cream could solve all the worlds’ problems. I always had the freezer stocked with it.
    “Come anywhere near my ice cream, Brooks, and I will not hesitate to bite you.”
    “Biting makes things interesting,” he smirked.
    “Not if I bite your hand off,” I replied easily. “Whatever will you do then?” I eyed the noticeable bulge straining against his jeans.
    “Guess you’ll have to help me with that , Tater Tot.”
    “I’ll gladly help you to an early grave.” My words shut me up, and Jude too. I wasn’t sure if it was for the same reason though. I thought of Graham. Of that twisted sheet of metal wrapped around a tree. How we had to bury him in a closed casket because there wasn’t much left. I shouldn’t have had to bury my brother at that age. He was far too young with his whole life ahead of him. My parent’s shouldn’t have been around to watch their oldest child lowered into the ground. From the moment Graham died, my life was filled with shouldn’t . I hated that word now. I hated a lot of things. Mostly myself.
    “I’m sorry,” Jude whispered. I’m sure he’d guessed where my mind went.
    “Don’t fucking apologize when you don’t mean it,” I snapped. My tone was