Mac lays down his knife and comes over to stand beside Tally. “What’s happening is the Jones boys have all fallen for the same girl and are going to woo her, making sure she stays here with us.”
I huff dismissively. “You’re delusional.”
He chuckles. “I think you’re the delusional one, Mouse. I’m teamDaddyJones, though.”
“Oh,oh! I’m team Hunter. And Tim already told me he wants you to reform Nash’s playboy self so we can have double dates and stuff,” Tally shares, all giddy.
“Tim wants me to get with Nash?” I furrow my brow in confusion.
If anything, I thought he was the one trying to keep Nash off my back.
“He wants him to be serious with you first, of course, but Nash is his best friend, and it would be so cool to have his best friend and my best friend together. We would have so much fun.” She claps her hands, and another twinge of hurt races through me.
Itwouldbe freaking amazing.
But it will never happen for so many reasons.
Besides, how would that even work?
It’s hard enough to hide in public, when I could stumble over a ghost at any time. But trying to have someone close? Several someones? Always having to watch what I say, how I act, where I look? It’s exhausting. And if they notice, if they get that something is strange about me? Best-case scenario is them dropping me like a hot potato, leaving me even more broken than I already am.
Worst-case scenario?
I shudder.
I’d rather die than go into a mental health institution again. I know not all are like the one I was admitted to, but I’m sure as hell not going to risk it.
“Oh, I totally forgot to tell you, the day after tomorrow, Friday, is Tim’s thirtieth birthday, and we’re having a little get-together here in the restaurant. You’re coming, right?” Tally gives me her best puppy eyes.
“Of course,” I say, smiling. I don’t know when I last went to a birthday party, and I find myself excited, even though I know I shouldn’t be.
The dinner shift begins as usual, and thankfully, it’s not too busy, so we have time to talk about Tim’s party, and I promise to help with the preparations.
I love hanging out with her, even if it’s only when we’re working. But with each shift, each conversation, as much as Iwant to immerse myself here, I know I can’t. There’s something about Tally that I can’t help it.
Shannon is standing in the corner of the restaurant, watching Tally like always, but since we had ourtalk, she has kept her distance and isn’t dropping any comments anymore. I feel bad, like I intruded. I somehow need to tell her I won’t do anything she doesn’t want so she can feel safe.
Shortly before closing, Nash and Hunter come into the restaurant, making the already sleepy-looking Tally all giddy again.
“Your men are here,” she whispers, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Ha-ha,” I whisper, making her giggle.
I steel myself and walk up to them, forcing a smile. “Hey, the kitchen just closed, sorry.”
“We know, pretty girl, we’re here for you,” Nash tells me with his signature grin, making my heart flutter.
I look at Hunter with a questioning gaze, but he half-smiles and says, “We brought the truck to get all your stuff over to the guest room.”
My heart picks up a notch, and I don’t know if it’s from excitement or anxiety.
What am I even doing?
TWENTY-NINE
Nash and Hunterhelped me move all my stuff to their house, and now I find myself back in the guest room I thought I had left for good this morning. Removing my brush from my toiletry bag, I unravel my braids and run the brush through my hair.
It’s already late, and I assume everyone is in their rooms, as the house is way too silent for my liking. So I grab the radio I fortunately remembered to bring and plug it in, letting it hum softly.
