The way Lissa used to be.
“Maybe I could try that,” she told Daria.
“I’m just saying, don’t count your chickens until they’re hatched.”
“Okay, that one I know you’re using wrong,” Lissa tossed over her shoulder before her attention landed on two women snuggling on a beach towel.They looked vaguely familiar, but all Lissa could focus on was how happy they seemed.
“Whatever,” Daria replied.“You get the idea.It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”
Lissa groaned, “Please stop.”
“I will if you promise to talk to her,” Daria shot back.“Give her some credit, Lissa.She might be more understanding than you think.”
Lissa watched the couple for a second longer.The one with Asian features laughed and snuggled further into the embrace of the one wearing a faded band tour T-shirt.“Maybe…”
“If you say maybe one more time…” Daria threatened.
“Then you’ll do what?”Lissa asked, turning away from the couple, their happiness only eating away at her.She crossed her arms and stared Daria down.“You’ll stop stealing my coffee?You’ll stop eating all the scones I buy and hide in the back cupboard, because I hoped you wouldn’t find them?”Lissa threw a hand up to her forehead dramatically, and her tone of voice dropped into that of a Southern belle.“Oh, heavens above!However will I go on with my life?”
Daria frowned.“Now that just hurts.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Daria’s frown curled up into a grin.“Okay, you’re right, it doesn’t.But…” She pushed up from the table and joined Lissa at the edge of the patio.“It would still mean a lot to me and everyone else if you wouldn’t give up yet.”
Lissa evaluated her friend for a long second, seeing something in Daria she hadn’t seen before.Fear.
“You really are worried aren’t you?”she asked.
“A little,” Daria admitted, her eyes dropping to the ground.“This place is my home too, Lissa.I don’t want to leave and find a job somewhere else.”She paused, then raised her head, the casual facade slipping back into place.“I mean, I’ve put in so much work with the male population here.I can’t start over fresh in a new city.”
Daria could make jokes all she wanted, but Lissa could see the truth.Her friend was genuinely scared of what they would all do if Smooth Expressions died.
“Okay,” Lissa agreed.“I’ll talk to her.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ria
“ShouldIbeconcernedyou’ve basically kidnapped me and are taking me out to the middle of nowhere?”Ria asked jokingly, glancing over at Lissa in the driver’s seat.
Lissa’s text message had been so mysterious Ria was practically vibrating with curiosity.
LISSA:Hey, my fave witch.I’ll pick you up tomorrow at noon.Dress comfortably.Sneakers, for sure.I’ll take care of the rest.
When Ria asked where they were going, Lissa had just followed up with a winking kiss emoji.She had basically spent the entire morning trying on every item of clothing she owned, wondering what Lissa’s definition of “comfortable” was.She’d eventually settled on a pair of khaki shorts and a white, short-sleeved button-down with a blue, polka-dot tank top underneath in case she got too warm.Sneakers weren’t really her vibe, but she’d dug out an old pair of canvas shoes from the back of her closet she hadn’t worn in maybe a decade.Close enough.
Keeping her eyes on the road, Lissa slid a hand over to rest on Ria’s thigh, her fingers playing with the edges of Ria’s shorts.“I mean, maybe you should be concerned,” Lissa said.“I could be taking you anywhere.”
“That’s true,” Ria replied, scooting her leg over in hopes Lissa’s fingers might want to explore a little more.“You could be a serial killer playing the long game.How much do I really know about you, anyway?”She’d meant the comment to be lighthearted, but Lissa’s hand stilled on her thigh for a moment, her body going rigid.“That was a joke,” Ria added, placing her hand over the top of Lissa’s.“I trust you.”
Lissa muttered something under her breath Ria didn’t catch, but something about Ria’s joke definitely hit the wrong way.Obviously Lissa wasn’t dragging her out of town to murder her, so why the tension in the air?
“Is something wrong?”she asked, absently rubbing Lissa’s hand.
“What do you mean?”Lissa replied, pulling her hand away to clench the steering wheel.“No, of course nothing is wrong.I’m just a little nervous.I hope you like where I’m taking you.”
Ria eyed her curiously, noting Lissa’s white-knuckle grip.“I’m sure whatever you have planned will be amazing.Though, I’m not sure how you’ll top the sea lions.That was beyond incredible.Well, right up until the fish attack.”She chuckled, hoping Lissa would join in and relax a little.
