“I know…” I raked my hand back through my hair, and I took a bite of sandwich again, letting my mind work in circles. I guess looking at it objectively, it had been working out—Cat was making fast friends with Alyssa, and Alyssa was clearly popular with the rest of the group already. If me going along with it made things work out better, then it wouldn’t make sense not to.
I’d just hate to get attached before I had to leave this place. But maybe it was nicer to leave on a positive note.
“Thanks for the sandwich, by the way,” I said. “It’s good.”
She grinned. “You can’t change the subject with flattery, you con artist.”
“I’m a con artist, am I?” I took out a small bag of chips, too—she really had gone the whole nine yards. Guess she was in a good mood. “Well, this con artist owes you one.”
“I know you neglect yourself when you’re up in your feelings. Just doing what friends do. Do you have plans tonight?”
I quirked a smile. “Is this you inviting me somewhere Alyssa is going to be?”
She laughed. “Not this time. Apparently they’re doing a potluck at the Birdhouse. I was just thinking… you should probably go.”
God, I’d used to love going to the potlucks. Mostly to mooch off of Daniela’s cooking. This time, though, I didn’t really need that in my life—a bunch of people who didn’t want me around, trying to decide whether to ignore my food or to eat itpolitely and say nothing. “I still have some orders to catch up on,” I lied. “I’ll have to miss this one.”
She frowned. “You said you’d go to the last event there, and all you did was give Alyssa my number.”
“I’m not saying I won’t go in the future. Just… tonight’s not a good night.” I took a handful of chips, eating them moodily, and Cat furrowed her brow at me before she broke out into a smile.
“That’s fine,” she said. “But if you wouldn’t mind, I’d really appreciate if you could bring something from me. You can just drop it off.”
She was getting me to go anyway. She wasn’t remotely subtle. And yet… I couldn’t say no when I owed her a favor for the sandwich.
Outplayed once again. Now who was the con artist here?
“Sure thing,” I said. “I’d be happy to.”
She beamed. “Say hi to Alyssa for me.”
“Will do.”
∞∞∞
Cat went all out, as it happened. She wasn’t too much of a cook, but she was a prolific baker, and there usually wasn’t a potluck or community meal without some of Cat’s cupcakes or rolls in attendance. This time, though, she’d prepared a whole tray of cupcakes, a roll cake, a massive dish of trifle, and of course, some of her homemade jelly donuts. I complained good-naturedly the whole time I hauled the things out to my car, and she gave me a hug and told meyou’re the very best, and I couldn’t get in any more complaints about the massive haul,because—again—the girl was hugging me. I’d let her have this one.
The sky was dark with gray clouds threatening rain once I got to the parking lot next to the Birdhouse, and I took a minute just to check my phone, gathering myself before I went to haul in a truckload of sugar, but I probably should have hurried, because in the time I dawdled, a car I recognized pulled in, Daniela’s yellow Mini Cooper. She parked perpendicular to my spot, and I tried to hold still in the car in hopes everyone would go on ignoring me, but the passenger door opened to where Alyssa stepped out in an annoyingly cute baby-blue dress, part of her hair braided, makeup done nicely with smoky eyes that locked on me and lit up. She waved, and I slouched. What were the odds of both of us showing up the same amount of late?
I opened the door, turning to kick my feet out the door and lean on the frame as she came over to me, a cautious smile on her face. “Hey, you,” she said. “You didn’t mention you were coming around.”
“Am I not allowed to?” I said, trying to be prickly. Didn’t work. Alyssa just laughed.
“That’s right. It’s me, the fun police. Can I see your permit for fun and games?”
I laughed despite myself. “Or what, you’re going to slap me on the other side this time?”
“Ah.” She slumped. “Low blow. But I’ll give you this one.”
“I’m not sticking around,” I said, lightening up a little. “Just came to drop off a couple things from Cat.”
Her face fell. “You’re not staying at all? I’d love it if you joined us for just a little.”
“I…” I raked my hair back. My first instinct was to lie like I had to Cat, but… I’d already entrusted Alyssa with more than I was saying for other people. I guess she could know. “I’m not comfortable hanging out with everyone in a setting like this.”
She softened. “I get that,” she said. “Truth be told, I’m not sure I’m up to a whole evening of socializing, either. But maybe you could just stick around long enough to say hi, have a couple snacks, and then go?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You, not up to a night of socializing? Here I thought I knew you, Alyssa Taylor.”
