Baddy gently swept a loose strand of hair behind her ear.The touch was soft, careful, almost tender.It made her knees wobble.
"Leave the window on the fire escape open after you get off work," he said quietly.
Her breath hitched."Why?"
"I need to talk to you."
His voice was low, serious.Personal.Intimate.
Before she could ask anything else, he stepped back.And walked out of the diner.
The bell over the door chimed once, then fell silent.Lydia stood frozen behind the counter, heart pounding, hands trembling.She wasn't fired.
Patty wasn't going to kick her out.But she was no closer to knowing what was wrong.
He spoke as if her whole world was about to shift.She just didn't know which way it would fall.
Chapter 16
Baddy climbed the fireescape, skipping two iron rungs at a time.His pulse ran hot.He hated the idea of scaring Lydia, hated the idea of showing up like this, but he needed to talk to her face-to-face without the others around.He needed her to hear him.Needed her to understand.
He tapped the window once.
It slid open a second later.
Lydia moved back and sat cross-legged on the bed, wrapping her arms around her middle as if prepared for the fallout of their upcoming conversation.Black leggings hugged her legs, and the Harley-Davidson shirt hung off one bare shoulder.She looked as if she was braced for bad news.
And he didn't know if she was reacting to him or because she already sensed something was wrong.
He stepped inside, boots scuffing the floor softly.She refrained from peppering him with questions.
He sat on the edge of the bed in front of her, close enough to feel the warmth of her legs.He cupped her face gently in both hands.
Her breath hitched.
He kissed her softly.The last thing he wanted to do was cause her more pain.
