Free #Jerk by Kat T. Masen Page A

watch, so I answer quickly.
    “Date? I was engaged to a guy named Jason.”
    “Why did you guys break it off?”
    “It wasn’t right,” I stutter nervously.
    He raises his eyebrows, but does not pry any further.
    “Where did you grow up?”
    “Virginia.”
    “Siblings?”
    “An older sister, Gemma.”
    “Favorite band?”
    “Band? Bon Jovi.”
    “Nice,” he adds. “Favorite song?”
    “In These Arms…Bon Jovi.”
    “Favorite movie?”
    “ Father of the Bride .”
    He pauses, then follows with a short chuckle. “I love that movie too.”
    “Really?” I laugh out loud.
    “Favorite food?”
    “Nachos.”
    “Ultimate holiday destination?”
    “Australia,” I answer with a smile.
    “Why did Haden take you outside on Friday night?”
    The question, a giant curveball, stuns me. Mentally, I try to calculate how many questions he has asked me, but all I think about is some excuse that will satisfy him without having to let the cat out of the bag.
    “How many questions is that? I think your time is up.”
    “I’m sure you can answer the last one.” His stern tone catches me off guard.
    I could tell him the truth; besides, if this goes any further, I can’t hide something like that from him. What are the chances of this going further? He is young, I am older. The best we could achieve is copious amounts of hot sex.
    “We had an argument earlier that day. Frankly, your cousin is a jerk.”
    He seems fixated on my movement, and I give him nothing to see how uncomfortable I am with this conversation.
    “I think I will order that second burger.”
    “Don’t I get to ask you the lightning round of questions?”
    “The next date you can.” He winks.
    “Oh, there’s going to be a next date?” I ask coyly.
    “Why wouldn’t there be?” He angles his face closer to mine, and with his lips slightly parted, I follow his lead until our lips brush together. The butterflies have crept their way into my stomach, causing some major excitement, but it’s soon followed by the grim reaper— guilt. I don’t know who or what I am feeling guilty about. My second attempt at playing the field since Jason and I broke up only two weeks ago, or the fact that he is the Jerk’s cousin.
    Don’t answer that.
    “Marcus?” I say softly as we both move away. “I just broke up with my fiancé. I’m slowly adjusting to life being single again.”
    “I’m not asking you to marry me, Presley. We can have fun together.”
    Fun. That either means hanging out at the amusement park or being tied to the bed with a gag ball and chains. Kitty has her voting cards out already, proudly holding up ‘option two.’
    Traitor.
    We finish lunch and head back to the office. Marcus insists on taking me back to my desk. I put my purse away and before I know it, he leans in to gently kiss my lips again. In the background, I hear a throat being cleared. It’s Dee, and she is standing with an overly thrilled Clive.
    “Listen, I better go. Call me tonight, okay?”
    I nod, and when he turns the corner, I think all is sweet until the whispers become louder and the three of us are standing there trying to eavesdrop.
    “Just like when we were kids,” I hear the Jerk say.
    “You said I had free rein,” Marcus responds, frustrated.
    “When did you ever hear me say that?” he bites back.
    “Friday night. Though you never explained why you pulled her away from the dance floor? C’mon Haden, you’re fucking the blonde. What do you care?”
    Silence falls between us all. Dee looks hurt, but that soon turns to anger. She glares at me like this is all my fault.
    “You’re right, I am fucking the blonde. So why should I care about Malone? She’s all yours, bud.”
    It’s my turn to be crestfallen. I’m not angry or upset with Marcus; they have some bro code going on and he clearly has been given the green light.
    Yet, I am not a possession.
    I don’t belong to Haden, but hearing him admit that he doesn’t care for me, not even one