As soon as Laney has a single crutch in hand, she’s pushing herself up.
Second crutch, and she’s across the kitchen in four swings, including two to get around the table.
I’m right behind her because I’m basically her pet right now.
And I like it that way.
She swings her cast to one side and squats on her other leg so she’s down at her friend’s level.
Boner’s getting bonier.
“Sabrina Sullivan,you listen to me,” Laney says. “Are you listening?”
Sabrina nods.
“Bean & Nugget isnotlost. Who are you?”
“You just said my name.”
“Who are you?”
“Fine.Fine. I’m Sabrina Sullivan.”
“No, you areSabrina fucking Sullivan. And you arenotgoing to letsome random manthat you’ve seen naked keep you from your dreams, becausewe are the ugly heiresses and we let no men stand in our way. Am I right?”
Sabrina nods, but she also starts breathing too hard again.
I grab her a new paper bag and hand it over.
“So you know what you have to do,” Laney says to her.
Is it hot this winter, or is it just my girlfriend?
Also, I’m even more turned on every time she owns the nickname I gave her a couple decades ago.
“I can’t, Laney,” Sabrina whispers into the paper bag. “I quit.I quit. Theo. Tell her I quit.”
“I’m gonna sit this one out,” I say. “Just got back in her good graces,” I add in a stage whisper. “Also, I don’t think you’d be here if you didn’t want her to fix this for you. I’d do what she says.”
“You can’t quit and you know it,” Laney tells her. “It’s in your blood. This is what you do. You know how to walk the line. So stand up. Get back in your car. Go back to work. And find outallof the gossip about him. This is what you’ve been training for your entire life. Find out the gossip. Use the gossip.Get your fucking café back. Am I clear?”
Sabrina takes a deep, shuddery breath. “But what if it makes Emma hate me even more?”
Laney sighs and reaches for Sabrina, then makes a strangledulp!noise as she tumbles headfirst onto her friend.
Stupid fucking cast.
“Stupid fucking cast,” she stutters.
“You areseriouslyrubbing off on her,” Sabrina says darkly to me.
“It’s awesome,” I agree while I carefully lift Laney back up and get her back to her chair. “You okay?”
“I did that on purpose,” Laney mutters.
I kiss her head. “Perfect avoidance of the question.”
“Emma willnothate you for doing what you do best to get your café back,” Laney says to Sabrina. “Pretend I’m hugging you while I’m reassuring you. And listen to me.Listen to me. She doesn’t hate you now.”
