I laughed before taking a bite out of one of my french fries. “Yeah. Funny story actually. I’m working at Body Butter & Books.”
My eyes locked with Natalie’s before she quickly looked away.
“What! So you’re working at my sister’s store and didn’t tell me?”
“To be fair, I didn’t know it was hers until she told me.”
I shifted in my seat as the lie flew between my lips. Okay, technically I wasn’t lying. I mean, I really didn’t know it was Natalie’s store when I interviewed. Sure, I knew they were siblings but Ricky didn’t need to know that I knew that. Glancing up, I saw Amber hanging onto my every word and immediately regretted not taking my conversation outside.
“Key, I’m going to finish my lunch and then call you after work.”
“Alright, bet.”
Amber leaned forward in her seat with her brows raised. “So, you and Ms. Natalie already know-”
“Amber,” Natalie interrupted. “I’ve been meaning to ask, how are you liking Briarton? I remember you telling me you just moved out here.”
Amber’s eyes lit up as she started talking about her relocation. Natalie glanced at me and gave me a subtle smirk before giving her full attention to her employee. I looked down at my plate and lightly chuckled. Natalie immediately knew where that line of questioning was headed and shut it down. I was grateful, too, because Amber liked staying in other people’s business. Not because she was messy, but like she said, she was a curious person. However, I didn’t care how curious Amber was, she wasn’t about to gain any knowledge of whatever Natalie and I had going on. Thankfully, Natalie agreed.
Natalie
Mya:
Girl, I can’t believe you’re with that clown instead of your brother’s fine ass friend.
Me:
No, ma’am! I told y’all a million times, Dexter is off-limits.
Mya:
Yeah, I heard that lie the first time you said it, but you and I both know that you can be delulu at times. Besides, why not have some fun with that forbidden thang!
I laughedout loud as I typed out a few middle finger emojis to Mya. I originally was going to text in the group chat with both Mya and Amanda, but Amanda had already told us she was going to be on do not disturb and to pretty much not bother her. She was obviously going through something and pushing us away. I would pry, but in the past, that only ended with me on the block list until Amanda eventually came around to talk it out. I would rather not deal with that type of headache and would wait for her when she was ready to hang out with us.
“What’s the tea?” Lawrence asked, glancing over at me.
We were on the way to his mom’s house for dinner, and if it were up to me, we would be in separate cars. Of course, that wasn’t an option because that would raise major suspicion and a thousand questions, which I didn’t have the patience for.
I scrunched up my face. “The tea? First of all, I don’t ever want to hear you say that shit again. Second of all, it’s noneya.”
“Damn, my bad. I thought I’d get a few life updates. After all, we are still ‘engaged,’ and it would be weird if I didn’t know what was going on with my fiancé.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ex-fiancé. Besides, nothing new to report to you.”
“Well, I am happy to report that I have a meeting with your dad next Monday. He’s going to introduce me to his friend Clarence Hodgeson.”
“Mr. Hodgeson? Why?”
“He’s the one I need to connect with to get L&N on the map. Well, soon it’ll be L&S Golf Pro Shop once all of the paperwork is approved.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he was changing the name of the shop I helped start. “Let me guess, the ‘S’ is for Sandra.”
“Yes, but only because it was her idea and she’s paying for the name change paperwork.”
“Sure, Jan,” I said, imitating Marsha from the Brady Bunch.
“Anyway, my goal is to get Mr. Hodgeson to invest into my business, so I can start supplying golfing equipment to all the country clubs throughout the state. Mr. Hodgeson is a businessman and loves to invest on marketable ideas.”
