"And what's that?" I took a big bite of my taco.
"To get you a new man."
I shook my head. "No." Absolutely not. "I'm not interested in dating right now."
"Aww, c'mon," Toni whined. "Brian was an ass...Ithinkbecause you've told us literally nothing about why you stopped seeing him." She paused for effect, waiting for me to fill the silence.
When I refused the bait, she sighed. "So let's dust ourselves off and try again. Oooh! You know, I swiped on this guy, but we had no chemistry. He'd be perfect for you."
"Oh, yay," I drawled in a monotone voice. "Please set me up with someone you deemed too boring for you."
She laughed and slapped my arm. "He's really nice. Hot, educated, and a science teacher out in Helensville. We just didn't mesh well. Our vibe was all off."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm honestly not interested, and," I raised my voice when Rachel opened her mouth for a rebuttal, "I don't mean I'm not interested, but wink-wink I am. I mean, I'mnotinterested."
Toni sighed dramatically before picking her drink up. "Okay, fine," she mumbled into her glass. "Just consider it for –"
Her eyes widened before she placed her glass down. "Incoming," she murmured out the corner of her mouth.
Since my back was to everyone, I had no idea who she was referring to. Visions of Brian or Simon and Sofia fluttered through my mind. I braced myself.
"What are you losers doing here?"
Fuck. It was worse.
Lissa.
I craned my head to look at her. Her long blonde hair was down, and she wore a tight crop top and jeans. I had no idea why she was shooting daggers at me when she was the one who fucked our friendship up.
"Aren't you supposed to be banned from here?"
Her face flushed red as she flicked her hair back. "Not anymore."
I snorted. I'd seen how overprotective Barron was around Eden. He was like a rabid dog over anything that may disturb her peace, determined not to let a hair on her head be ruffled.
"I seriously doubt that."
She rolled her eyes and sipped her drink. "He's never here anyway. He's too busy holding Eden's handbag while she works."
I knew Lissa like the back of my hand. I could read her moods. I knew when she was pissed, happy, vindictive, and bitchy. And right now? She was jealous as fuck. Bitter, even.
Lissa had briefly succeeded in pulling Barron away from Eden when they were teens, but she hadn't succeeded in keeping him. I remembered the quiet pinch of anger on her face whenever she caught Barron staring longingly at Eden across the hall or in the cafeteria at school. I constantly advised her to forget about him because, honestly, it was kind of embarrassing having to watch Lissa chase after Barron so hard while he was making hurt-hearted eyes at his ex.
Lissa was livid when Barron and Eden got back together a couple of years ago. To the point where I actively avoided her so I wouldn't have to fake my way through another vitriol about EdenfuckingJamison.
Barron and Eden were inseparable—New Haven's golden couple. Lissa had done everything she could to cause trouble between them, to no avail. All that happened was a permanent ban on The Homestead's premises and the shame of knowingthat the town pitied her—or reveled in her misfortune. After all, she’d burned a lot of bridges.
"Ian's here," I reminded her. He was Homestead's take no bullshit manager. He would have no issues tossing her out on her ass.
Lissa shrugged carelessly as she sat on an empty seat at our table. Charli made a face like she got a whiff of a bad smell.
"What Ian doesn't know can't hurt him. But don't you think it's weird that Barron's still keeping that policy? Of banning me? Like, why are you so obsessed with me?" She held out her arms and gave a high-pitched giggle.
Wow. Destination: Delulu Land. Ticket for one, please.
I could be a bitch and signal Ian over, but I didn't want to waste any more energy on Lissa. What she did or where she went was no longer my concern. Thank God.
Lissa surveyed our faces, taking note of everyone's stony expressions. She rolled her eyes. "Uh, oh. Has Saint Maria been crying into her tissues to all of you? Y'all need to get a grip."
