She rolls her eyes.
“I wanted to be close by, in case you had another nightmare.”
She lowers her gaze to her feet before looking up from under her lashes. “Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m in fine fighting mode.”
“Watch out, New York, Kaz Lindström is ready to take on the world.”
Her bright mood suggests she did in fact have a good night’s sleep.
Unlike yesterday, she’s giving hints of the effervescent Harley I met a year ago.
“Since you started a conversation with someone else, why don’t I get on with my day?” Erik says.
Oh, shit. I forgot about Erik.I lift my phone up. “Sorry.”
“I get it. Harley is a lot prettier to look at than I am.”
She gasps.
“Idiot.” I swing my gaze in Harley’s direction. “It’s my friend, Erik. He was at Grazie Mille on the day of the white suit-gate scandal and he’s co-owner of Creamy Heaven.” I turn the phone around.
Harley waves. “Pleased to meet you again, even though I don’t remember you, Erik.”
“The pleasure is mine, Harley. And I’m guessing we’ll see each other real soon…”
I flip the phone around, and in my haste, it almost drops from my hands.
Why is he letting the cat out of the bag?“You’re right, it’s time for you to get on with your day.”
“I’m being dismissed. Message received.” Erik chuckles. “Have a great day, Harley.”
This time, I don’t turn my phone around. I don’t need him to drop more hints.
“The same to you, Erik.”
A small smile quirks at Erik’s lips and he holds my gaze for a few beats. “Call or text with the latest update.”
“I will.”
I end the call.
I turn my attention to Harley. “Hungry?”
“I’m famished.”
“What would you like?”
She shrugs. “Fruits. Yogurt. Toast. Cereal. Muffins. Pancakes. I’m easy. The only thing I can’t go without is coffee.”
I lift my cup. “The beverage of choice to ensure I’m human in the morning. Without it, I’m sure I’d turn into a fictional monster, and New Yorkers would run for their lives.”
“You deliver the funniest lines with the most stoic expression, which makes them even funnier.” She places her fingers over her mouth as if suppressing a laugh.
No one in their right mind would call me funny, but I feel ten feet tall that my permanent state of sarcasm brings a smile to her lips.
“I have all of the food on your breakfast wish list, but I can offer something more interesting than a plain continental breakfast.”
