Lila groaned, tipping her head back.
“Damn it, Shea. Those are my two greatest weaknesses in the world and you know it. Let me close up first. Have a seat, make yourself at home.”
Five minutes later, Lila and I were seated on one of her velvety lush burgundy loveseats, slurping our milkshakes.
“As long as you think it’s safe to return to your place,” Lila said. “Of course I’ll support whatever you choose.” She pointed at me fiercely with a french fry. “But you have to promise me that we will have another sleepover in the future. Growing up around Dad and all those bikers loaded with testosterone has left me starved for girl talk. I liked hanging out with you.”
My heart warmed at the compliment.
“Thosebikers loaded with testosteronetreat you like a princess,” I pointed out. “And you’ve slept with half of them, so being surrounded by hot bikers with high sex drives must have some perks.”
Lila screwed one eye shut, calculating a tally with little jabs of her french fry in the air.
“Actually, I think it’s more than half by now. But who’s counting?”
I chuckled, scooping a chunk of cookie dough out of my milkshake with a spoon.
“I haven’t slept with Trooper though,” Lila added with a sly sideways look.
The cookie dough lodged in my throat and I nearly choked.
“That’s…good to know, I guess?” I wheezed between one coughing fit and the next.
Lila retrieved a bottle of water from the breakroom in the back and handed it to me.
“I didn’t want to step on your toes,” she said. “Since it seemed like you and Trooper have always beena thing. Or close to it, at least.”
I shook my head vehemently.
“We’re just friends. We’re not…a thing.”
The memory of that kiss filled my mind. The hunger, the want, the burning desire of it. And I kissed him back, because I was eager for more.
“It’s okay if you are,” Lila pressed. “He’s cute. Objectively.”
God, I did not want to be having this conversation. I kept shaking my head as I grabbed a thick fry and bit into it, scalding my mouth.
“Then you should be the one to date him,” I said.
Lila tilted her head, wrinkling her nose. She was considering it, I realized with a jolt of horror. She was actually thinking about dating Trooper. Or at the very least sleeping with him.
Please say no, please say no, please say no.
“It’s a tempting offer,” Lila said at last. “But he’s not interested in me.”
I heaved a sigh.
“Now you sound like Raine. She says the same thing. He’s my friend, Lila. That’s all.”
She shrugged.
“If you say so.”
The tone of her voice indicated she was clearly not convinced, but she wouldn’t argue it any further. I debated whether I should push the issue when the door opened.
“We’re closed—” Lila broke off when she saw Pretty Boy in his Reckless Order cut at the door. Her demeanor cooled instantly. “Oh. It’s you.”
“That’s no way to greet an old friend,” Pretty Boy replied, spreading his arms wide. He crossed the shop and propped his elbows on the back of the loveseat, leaning over Lila. She pretended like he wasn’t even there, angrily munching on her fries. He gave a dramatic shiver despite the warmth of early June. “Does it suddenly seem a little frosty to you, Shea?”
