“I’m notthatbad,” I mutter. “Just forgetful.”
“That’s easy then. Do you know your passwords?”
“Erm, maybe?”
She gives me an exasperated look.
Just then, Gabriella walks up with a plate of fries and two Cokes. I give her a shy smile, and she grins back.
“What happened to Jenna?” Fi asks, her tone amused.
Gabriella nods at me with a mischievous smile. “She didn’t want to get caught by the boss serving him.”
“Probably smart,” I say, popping one of the fries into my mouth. “I’m a menace.”
“You’re more than that.” Gabriella winks and leaves us.
“They like you.” It’s a statement rather than a question.
I nod. “I’ve been here a lot.”
“Why here?” Fi asks quietly, sipping on her Coke.
“I remembered the place from when you visited with Charlie all those years ago, and I honestly just wanted to see a familiar face.”
Because everyone else left me.
We stare at each other in silence until Fi finally clears her throat. “So bills.”
For the next hour, we reset my passwords for the water, electric, and cable companies, pay each one, and call mylandlord and give him my credit card to autodraft starting next month.
I watch Fi while she works, her slender fingers flying over the keyboard, and it reminds me of college when we used to do our homework together. A little stabby feeling twinges my chest, and I rub it absently as I watch her, guilt a lead weight in my gut.
“So what brings you here, Fi?” I ask.
She stops typing and glances up at me. “A lot of things.”
“Can you be more specific?”
Fi sighs and cocks her head to the side, pursing her lips like she’s considering what she wants to say. “Not that it’s really any of your business,” she starts, and I have to admit that her attitude stings, “but my mom died the same day I got laid off and then my girlfriend dumped me. Or I dumped her. I dunno. Whatever. We broke up.” Her cheeks flush as she says it, and she looks away.
It’s not like her to get flustered. Something is different now.
“I’m sorry, Fi. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, you know me. I’ll bounce back like I always do,” she says with a tight smile. “And I think we’re done here.” She closes the laptop with a snick.
“What the fuck is this?” Sebastian’s voice crawls over my skin, and I wince before glancing behind me to see Bastian stalking toward the table with a murderous glare.
I swallow, fingering the scar across my neck nervously.
“Don’t worry, Seb,” Fi says smoothly. “Brantley was just leaving.”
Sebastian grits his teeth. “Why is he here at all? Eatingmyfood frommypub?”
Gabriella walks out of the backroom carrying a tray of drinks. When she sees us, she redirects her path until she’s standing next to Sebastian. “Boss, behave.” She nods at the half-eaten plate of fries. “He’s a paying customer right now.”
I look over at her in confusion. “But I didn’t?—”
