I roll my eyes. “You’re so needy.”
“Always for you, sweetheart,” he says, and presses one last kiss to my lips. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes,” I say. “I’m great.”
“Good.” He presses one last kiss at the corner of my mouth. “I’ll sit and eat my breakfast then.”
I half smile. “Don’t worry.” I slide the paper cup and plate across the counter. “It’s on the house. You can pay me back later.”
He throws me a saucy wink. “How does lunchtime sound?”
I bat my lashes and breathe. “Good.”
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” he says, and I try not to wince at my regular outfit of jeans and an oversized sweater.
“You’re so obsessed with me,” I tease.
“Sickeningly.”
I huff a laugh as Rowan takes his breakfast to the high countertop at the window. I round the counter, grabbing my own coffee, to join in. Setting my mug down, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Rowan goes around the counter, gathering napkins and whatever else he wants like he owns the place. I love it though.
I pluck my phone from my pocket and read the screen. “Oh my god,” I breathe. “Oh my god!”
Elena: Do you think we could meet at The Black Cat in an hour?
Natalia: Um, hi? Wtf
Natalia: Yes, I’m here now
Lana: I’ll be there
Isabelle: I’m finishing up a class, I’ll be right over
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
I’m still blinking, confused and surprised yet happy all at the same time as read over Elena’s message. “Elena…she’s…back?”
Rowan’s eyes widen into saucers. “She’s back?”
I nod. “I guess so. She’s meeting me and the girls here in an hour.”
“Wow…”
“I know.”
“Oh my god,” I breathe. “Does Luca know?”
Rowan shakes his head, hitching a shoulder. “I doubt it,” he says. “Strange how everyone’s life is just kind of?—”
“Messy? Chaotic? Crazy?”
“Just a bunch of synonyms then,” he teases. “Even Julian?—”
“What’s wrong with Julian?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing, just…has a crush.”
