Dillonand Vera shared a look before Dillon asked, “So you guys are official?”
“Official?”My heart jumped to my throat and I started coughing dramatically in an attemptto dislodge it. “God, no. I meant… I meant in the kitchen. If I left him aloneat Lilou, he would murder me. And then bring my corpse back to life and make mehis sous-chef zombie slave.”
Verasnickered. “Sounds kinky.”
Myface was now the same color as the nearby mini rose trees. “Dillon, I can’ttrust you with anything!”
Sheheld her hands up. “What? That was juicy! I can’t be expected to keepinformation like that a secret forever.”
“It’sbeen one week.” I turned to Vera. “How long have you known?”
Shepressed her lips together to hide a smile. “Oh, not long. Maybe like a week?”
Iglared at the greenhouse-style ceiling and decided these two chatty Cathy’scould remain my friends. For now. Until someone better came along. And bybetter, I meant anyone with the ability to keep a secret.
“Youdidn’t tell Killian, did you?”
Vera’sexpression turned guilty. “It’s just that he’s been worried about Wyatt lately.He’s been stressed out because of the promotion. We want to see him happy.” Shecleared her throat. “Also, Killian was pissed I didn’t let him in on trainingyou. I needed something juicy to even things out! And you guys as a couple isabout as entertaining as it gets.”
Irolled my eyes. “Don’t get any ideas. There’s nothing juicy happening betweenWyatt and me.” Except for when we made out this morning. In public. In front ofhis foster mom.
“Whynot?” Vera asked, her eyes darkening with worry. “You’re so good for eachother.”
Thecomfort and freshness of the nursery faded with the intrusion of cold, hardreality. “Not in the long-term sense of the word.” At Vera’s completely fallenface, I quickly added. “We’re having fun. It’s nothing serious. It won’t everbe something serious.”
“Oh,sure.” Vera turned back to add more succulent arrangements to her cart. “Yeah,I only meant we want to see him less stressed out. Jo said he was better thismorning when she saw you two.”
Iblinked at Vera. “How has word spread this quickly?”
Shegave me a side glance. “We’re all on Wyatt watch. We want to see him settledinto Lilou and in life. It’s nothing against you, Kaya.”
“Oh,I’m sure it’s not.”
Dillonnudged me with her elbow. “Meeting Jo though… That’s kind of a big deal?”
My shoulderslifted in a casual shrug out of instinct. “I already know Jo. And this morningwasn’t like that. It wasn’t like… an official meet the parents moment oranything. It was—”
“Shesaid she caught you kissing!” Vera practically shouted.
Desperatelytrying to keep my voice softer than shrill, I said, “Oh my God.”
“AndWyatt confirmed,” Vera confessed, nervous for the first time ever. “They bothhad unrelated questions, but the conversation naturally kind of… veered toyou.”
Itried not to fidget as the burning in my cheeks reached an all new level ofvolcanic hot. “Is this why we’re here? You want to interrogate me about Wyatt?”
“We’rehere to pick out low maintenance centerpieces for Vera’s tables,” Dillon saidnonchalantly, like they hadn’t lured me into their trap to confirm all thescandalous details of my not-so-private morning. “Aren’t they pretty?”
“Yes,”I mumbled, picking up one for myself. There were three different varieties in akind of rock garden settled into a stone pot. Very pretty. It would look supercute on my island, next to my giant wood cutting board.
“He’sa great guy,” Vera said gently. “Maybe you should give him a chance.”
“It’sbad timing,” I confessed. “With my attempt at Sarita. And being his sous chef.And, both of our insane, chaotic lives. It’s not meant to be.”
Theeternal optimist, Dillon’s eyes lit with hope and she started to say, “Maybe—”
“Lookat those mossy things,” I said, cutting her off. “I’m going to check thoseout.”
Theylet me have my space and graciously didn’t bring up the subject of Wyatt againall morning. I left with another backseat filled with purchases and a rapidlybeating heart.
