“Careful, Rí, this one bites,” Mac warns, watching Lily carefully.
Lily sighs audibly and tosses her hair before taking Koen’s hand. “Lily, a pleasure,” she says haughtily, glaring at Mac before giving Koen a smile. “So you’re the one who kidnapped my bestie.” She shifts Remi on her hip. “And my mini-bestie.”
“Ahh—” Koen’s dark eyes dart between Lily and me, not quite sure how to respond. “Kidnapped is a strong word…”
“Is it?” My attention narrows on Koen, remembering everything he put me through.
Don’t start,he says with his eyes, and I keep my mouth shut.For now.
“You. Took. My. Best. Friend.” Lily’s hazel eyes flash, and I’m suddenly nervous she might hand Remi off to me so she can go fight my boyfriend.
“Yeah, but?—”
“You chased me through half the state of Massachusetts!” Lily continues, cutting him off.
“Okay, that wasn’ttechnicallyme...” Koen’s eyes flicker to Mac.
“Yourgoonmanhandled me!”
“Don’t make me regret saving you.” Mac pinches the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.
“Saving me?You kidnapped me!” Lily argues.
“Yeah, those two words are synonymous in this world, apparently…” I mutter, and Koen’s eyes sparkle.
“Okay, listen here, Captain Kidnap.” Lily straightens, lifting her chin and glowering at Koen. “Yeah, I’m talking to you.” She nods when Koen arches a brow. Mac coughs a laugh at our back. “A repeat offender, it would seem...” She sniffs, and I have to hold a palm over my mouth, tears of laughter tearing at the corners of my eyes. “If you ever so much asthinkabout scaring Briar like that again, I will beat you to death with your ownskull!”
“I don’t think that’s…”
I cut Mac off with a little hiss and a shake of my head.
“You’re right, Lily,” Koen says, his voice deadly serious, and we all freeze. “Briar didn’t deserve what I put her through. I fucked up, but I’m ready to spend the rest of my life making up for it. I wasn’t there for her when she needed me, but I’m herenow for whatever she needs, and Remi, for as long as they’ll have me.” His eyes connect with mine, and I feel myself melt.
Lily blinks, surprise catching her tongue. “Well, great. Fantastic growth arc. You’re temporarily forgiven.” Lily sniffs. “On probation.”
“Is the probation term negotiable?” Koen asks.
“No.”
86
GIRLS NIGHT
BRIAR
“One more movie!Please! Please! One more!” Remi begs, before the credits are even rolling on the movie that just finished. “We can make ice cream sundaes!”
“I don’t know… it’s getting kind of late.” I check the time on my phone.
“C’mon, Mom!” she whines.
“Yeah! C’mon, Mom!” Lily echoes, throwing popcorn at my face.
I narrow my eyes at her. “You’re not helping,” I mutter, before chucking a piece of popcorn back at her.
“I mean, what’s another ninety minutes?”
“Rory!” I whip my head around, clutching my chest at the unexpected betrayal.
