“I like these stories,” she said with a grin as she lifted her coffee to her lips. “I feel like I’m getting to know the real Cody.”
Nylah leaned closer. “I have a lot more where they came from.”
Cody groaned. “When did you say you were leaving?”
“Not as soon as you’d like, brother.”
A knock sounded at the bar door, causing both men to straighten.
“Expecting company?” Liam asked.
“No.” Cody moved toward the door, with Liam not far behind. When he pulled it open, Harper could just see Tilly on the other side.
When Tilly saw the two large men looking down at her, her mouth opened and closed before her gaze shifted around them to Harper. “I’m sorry. Is this a bad time?”
Harper rose to her feet and moved toward the door. “No. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine. I just wanted to check if you were free for a visit. I texted but…”
Harper cringed. “Sorry, I left my phone upstairs.” Guilt slithered down her spine because the woman really looked like she needed a friend, and after last night, Harper wasn’t surprised. The news of her replacing Linda had not exactly beenmet with overwhelming joy. She’d hoped to talk to her again at the party, but Tilly had left too quickly after the announcement.
Cody stepped back. “Come in. Liam and I will head upstairs. I need to put him to work to help me fix a cabinet, anyway.”
“Are you sure?” Tilly asked.
“Absolutely.”
Harper gave Cody an appreciative smile as Tilly stepped inside. He closed and locked the door before leaning down and pressing a kiss to Harper’s cheek. “Yell if you need me.”
“I will.”
When the men disappeared, Nylah stepped forward. “Hey, Tilly. How are you? I haven’t seen you in years.” Her voice was gentle, probably perceiving that was what Tilly needed at the moment.
“It’s been a rough few weeks, but I’m getting there.”
“Would you like me to leave too?” Nylah asked.
Tilly shook her head. “No. Stay. Please.” She lifted a box. “I brought way too many Sugar and Spice cupcakes, and Harper and I will definitely need help finishing them.”
Nylah’s mouth dropped open. “You are a literal angel. Do you know how much I’ve been dreaming about those cupcakes since I left?”
“Can’t be as much as me,” Tilly laughed.
They moved to a booth, and Harper waited until they were seated with the box of cupcakes open in the middle of the table before asking, “How are you doing after last night?”
Tilly hesitated, and that hesitation told Harper everything. “A couple of people approached me to congratulate me, which was nice. Mrs. Sandler. Ali. But if I’m honest, it was really disappointing. I intentionally got to town weeks before the announcement to get people used to the idea of me being here. I guess a part of me was hoping I could convince everyone that I’mnot the bad guy.” She laughed, but there was no humor there. “Make them like me.”
Harper reached across the table and placed a hand over hers. “I’m sorry. Maybe it will just take a bit more time.”
“For what it’s worth,” Nylah started slowly, “I never blamed you for what your father did. His actions are not your burdens to bear, and I’m sorry others don’t think the same.”
Her smile softened. “You’ve always been so kind, Nylah. Cody and Eastern, too.”
They all heard the name she’d failed to mention.
Nylah’s expression turned sympathetic. “Kayden will come around. He’ll have to, seeing as you’ll be working together at the center.”
“I don’t know.” Tilly picked at her cupcake. “I tried to talk to him last night, and it was so frosty that I could almost feel the ice forming between us.”
