And if that's not love

 

"He's a flirt, you know," Magz told Tristan who didn't even want to know who she was talking about.

"Why did I let you in?" It made him nervous. Sure he was home alone and why wasn't someone here to keep everything calm. He got sodas out right away. It was going to be the friend zone or else. He went straight to the remote and sat on the couch to channel surf, but of course, she was right next to him. Her hand on his thigh. He froze. Was she going to kiss him right now? Or other places unknown?

He took a deep breath and stared at her and pressed his lips, wondering what would be the biggest turn-off.

"Look, you aren't anything like my mother."

Magz winced as if what the hell did that mean. He moved away.

"She's very strong, you know. The strongest woman I've ever known. You aren't strong at all." He looked away and stared at the TV.

"What?" She snarled as if he did know her, after all.

"Oh, you don't have the nerve. You couldn't survive if you didn't have your Daddy's money." Tristan pressed a frown. "You couldn't make it on your own, and I'm not helping you."

She sat back and hugged herself.

"You just stick with old Holden. He'll take care of you." Tristan nodded. "You'll be just fine."

"No, I won't," Magz told him. She nursed her bottom lip. "That's not what I want."

"Then fine, you need to figure some things out. Like your own life. Stop messing with mine." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You think my mom had an easy time with a guy like my dad? Hell no. He was an outsider. They couldn't even tell you where he was from. He liked the outdoors. They met on a ranch and..and she ran off with him. It was never easy. We don't do things easy in my family."

He was closed lip then, but she put her arm around his. This was so foolish. She might as well have been a freight train.