“Um, Cora. That’s quite a bit to, umm… take in.” Mila’s voice cuts through the air. She puts her hand on my arm and tries to pull my hands away.
“Hell fucking yes! I knew he had it in him!” Mara exclaims, causing Mila and me to whirl around to her.
“What?” We both look at her incredulously.
“Oh, please.” She waves us off. “I knew that boy had the hots for you since the day he came in here and wanted to get something for you. I was wondering how long it would take him.” Shaking her head, she smirks. “So how was it?”
I can feel my face heat at the memory of it. There’s no way I can tell them any sort of details.
“That good, huh?” She snickers. “Atta boy.” She claps. “Congrats, girl, way to get back on the horse.”
Mila is still stunned silent and looks between Mara and me.Yeah, I can’t believe her either.
“Mara, we could use some help up here.” The kid from the front pokes his head into the kitchen. “Sorry to interrupt,” he adds before quickly ducking away.
“Well, duty calls.” Mara walks past me.
“Wait. I want my treat.”
“Ha. Girl, you got your treat last night.” She snickers, pushing out through the swinging kitchen door.
Turning back to Mila, I watch her shrug her shoulders. “I don’t know what to say. That’s just…wow. You go, girl.” She gives me a side hug and leans her head on my shoulder. “I think she was left too long without oxygen since I made it out first.” Shaking her head in mock sadness, she adds, “I guess it shows some days more than others.”
“I really don’t know what to do, Mila.”
“What do you mean?”
“Atlas is … a lot. It’s hard to explain. When I first met him, he was somewhat standoffish, but after the night we went out, he’s been different. Like a switch went off, and it’s a different Atlas now. I don’t know which one is real.”
One of the oven timers buzzes, and she moves to turn it off. Opening the oven doors, she uses mitts to pull the trays of brownies out.
Shit, how long have I been here?
“Hmm…. You may not like my answer.”
“Just tell me,” I plead.
“You need to talk to Matt,” she tells me firmly.
“What? Why?” I ask in confusion. “My issue is Atlas.”
Stepping toward the table, I eye the fresh brownies. Following my line of sight, Mila scowls. “Don’t even think about it. They’re hot as hell right now.”
“I know—that’s when they’re best and gooey.”
Shaking her head, she continues, “You need to talk to Matt, and end whatever he thinks might happen with you guys. Not only is he Noah’s soccer coach, but he’s his friend’s older brother. That’s going to get messy, girl.”
“Do you think I should just quit?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know why you bother working another job at all.”
“Really? Mila, you know I can’t go back. I won’t go back to that,” I whisper.
“Hey.” She pulls me into her arms. “Cora, you are so far past their shit. They’re gone, and you’ve done so well for yourself, and by Noah. He has everything he could ever need or want. You gave him a home and stability, which is more than they could have attempted even on their best day. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Nodding, I lean into her hug. “I know,” I mumble, pulling back. I wipe a stray tear away. “I just need him to be secure. Yeah, he’s only seven now, but his birthday is coming up, and the holidays. He’s already grown out of most of his stuff.”
“Are you guys okay, though? Money-wise?”
