Addicted to You by Renita Pizzitola

whole box of them.” He grinned. “Help yourself. I texted Colby before I got off and he said you were here, so I got extras.”
    “You’re the best.” I pulled out the top box and cracked the lid and discovered it to be filled with french fries. Gloriously greasy fries. And after the way Colby had just pulled a complete one-eighty, I could use a little comfort carbs. Or a lot.
    I plopped into a chair and angled the box between myself and an empty seat. Landon walked over, ketchup in hand, and squeezed what seemed like half the bottle into the box lid, then sat in the chair next to me.
    He opened the other box, which was filled with chicken tenders. More yummy, crunchy grease to help ease the confusion.
    Landon slid the box across the table, and I plucked one out.
    “Thanks.”
    “No problem.” He held up a cup of ranch but I shook my head. “Have fun with Gabe tonight?” he teased.
    I rolled my eyes, letting them wander toward the back porch where I could barely make out Colby’s silhouette. Was that what kept getting under his skin tonight? Gabe? He said he wasn’t the only one—but really, he couldn’t honestly find Gabe a threat. Or competition. Or whatever had him so worked up. Who cared if the guy flirted with me?
    “Be honest, did I give off anything that even remotely suggested I was interested in him?”
    “In Gabe?” He laughed. “No. You weren’t rude by any means, but other than letting the guy buy you a beer, no. I could tell you weren’t interested, but not too sure if he could.”
    Could Colby not tell either? I looked at him again, still sitting by himself. Matt and Taylor probably wouldn’t be back for a while, and he knew Landon was here, so why not come in?
    I lifted a french fry so drenched in ketchup it buckled under the weight, tilted my head back to avoid making a mess, then crammed it in my mouth.
    “Did Gabe say anything to you?” I asked between bites.
    “Nah, he mentioned the bonfire but seemed more interested in whether or not I could bring you, rather than me actually going.” He took a bite of ranch-covered chicken, then shrugged. “Not trying to break your heart or anything, but I’m sure he’s already found a new prospect at the beach party.”
    I grabbed my chest and feigned disappointment. “But Landon, he dedicated a song to me!”
    He laughed, just as the back door finally slid open. “This is why I love you.”
    Colby, who was once again nailing the role of brooding male, glanced at us.
    “Hey, I brought plenty. Help yourself.”
    Colby leaned against the bar dividing the kitchen and the small nook we sat in. “I’m good. But thanks.”
    I lifted another ketchup-saturated fry and dropped it into my mouth. Sure, most girls would try to eat in a manner slightly less barbaric, but most girls weren’t playing a game of will he/won’t he with Colby. And, quite frankly, this girl was sick of it. So he could stand there with his faint frown and sulking eyes, watching me cram five thousand calories into my sexually frustrated body. I mean, I had to find pleasure in something, right? And at this moment it was in the starchy, salty goodness of french fries.
    But when I glanced at him, he wasn’t watching me devour twenty potatoes’ worth of fries; he was instead staring at the boxes of food between Landon and me. Maybe he was hungry. Except his expression looked more sad than anything else.
    His gaze drifted to Landon, then slowly back to me. We made eye contact and the corner of his mouth tugged up in a tiny smile that somehow managed to look a lot like defeat. As if he’d discovered something he didn’t exactly like, yet had no choice but to accept.
    I tilted my head in question and he tugged out a chair and settled at the table with us. “So tonight was a good turnout.”
    Landon nodded. “Hell yeah. The band paid off.”
    “Bet your boss is happy.”
    “Considering the way things typically die down at the end of summer, I sure as hell hope so.” He