It was almost as if she could feel his hands on her hips, his mouth on her skin, the way he looked at her almost convinced her that she was something he wanted, not something he'd used.
She didn't know if that morning meant anything to him.Didn't know if she was supposed to pretend it hadn't happened.Didn't know if she was supposed to act normal or avoid him or—
God, she didn't know anything.
She wanted to convince herself that sleeping with Baddy was nothing more than a moment, an experience, a mistake, or a one-morning stand.
Because she refused to be like her mother, she played it cool.She squared her shoulders.She was mature and could handle him.
But then why did her chest feel warm?
Why was she excited to see him?
Why was her stomach fluttering?
She swallowed hard and forced herself to keep moving, to keep working, to keep pretending she wasn't falling apart inside.
But instead of coming to her, Baddy walked straight to Patty.
Patty looked up, surprised to get singled out, then nodded and motioned him toward the back.
Lydia's stomach dropped.He hadn't come to see her.
Her boss and Baddy disappeared into the kitchen, where customers weren't allowed.
She inhaled deeply, shaking off her reaction to him.Why was he here?
She refilled coffee at two booths and returned to the counter when the kitchen door swung open again.Patty came out first.Her mouth was pinched into a thin line.
Patty's gaze found Lydia and quickly looked away.Lydia frowned.Her boss was upset.
Baddy followed her out, jaw clenched, eyes dark.
Lydia's breath caught.
Something was wrong.Very, very wrong.
Lydia tried to keep her hands steady as she wiped down the counter, but her pulse wouldn't slow.Patty's frown still lingered in her mind, like a warning she wasn't allowed to hear.
And the worst part was that she didn't know if it had anything to do with her job...or with Baddy.Maybe it had to do with her having sex with him.
Maybe she wasn't allowed to get involved with a Royalla member.Maybe there were contingencies with her taking a job at the diner.
She kept her head down, pretending to refill sugar jars, pretending she wasn't watching them out of the corner of her eye.
Baddy approached the counter.
Her stomach twisted so hard she almost dropped the sugar jar.She forced herself to stand still, to breathe, to not blurt out every terrified question clawing at her throat.She looked at his chest, unable to look him in the eyes as he gave her bad news.
Was she getting fired?
Did Patty want her gone?
Did Baddy regret this morning?
He leaned closer.Close enough that she could smell the faint scent of leather and soap clinging to him.Close enough that her heart thudded painfully against her ribs.
She opened her mouth, then shut it without saying anything.She was afraid to ask.Afraid of the answer.
