“Can you hold it?”
“I have to go now!”
“They’re not going to let you in to use the restroom,” I told him. The area around Frost Tower was becoming somewhat developed—Archer was building a hotel there—but it was far from busy. Georgia Peach was one of the only restaurants in the area. There were, of course, no public bathrooms.
“I’m sure Jack would let us into his tower,” Hunter said.
We looked outside. It was rush hour, and the streets were clogged with wall-to-wall traffic.
“I need to go!”
“I’m driving,” Remy said. “I can’t take him.”
I looked at the back of Hunter’s head. “You want the kid or the goat?”
Remy laughed. “If you’re buying something, can you get me a sandwich? Hunter needs one too. He’s hangry.”
“I’m not. I don’t want this animal in here.”
“Now!” Davy said and unbuckled his car seat belt.
I helped him out of the car. He scampered to the restaurant door, and I swung it open. The hostess smiled blandly at me.
“Could he use the bathroom?” I asked, pointing to Davy, who was bouncing on his feet.
“It’s for paying customers only,” the hostess said.
Sadie’s back was to me, but Mark could probably see me across the room—if he ever took his eyes off of her. I ground my teeth.
“I will buy something.”
“Do you have a reservation?”
“Could I just order at the bar?”
The hostess rolled her eyes. “You can’t bring a toddler to sit at the bar.”
“He’s going to pee on your floor. Can I please just buy something? I will leave a very generous tip for the inconvenience,” I said, baring my teeth in a smile.
The hostess snapped her gum and sighed. “I guess.” She waved me to the bar. “He wants to order the most expensive item on the menu,” she said to the bartender.
I nodded in confirmation.
“Bathroom’s that way,” she said, pointing in the direction of Sadie and Mark’s table.
“You’ve got it, right, Davy?” I asked desperately.
He shook his head. “I need help. I don’t want to fall in.”
“Holy smokes.”
“Hurry, hurry!” Davy said.
I hurried through the tightly packed restaurant, trying to follow him. I looked up and made eye contact with Sadie.
“Parker?”
I smiled weakly. “This wasn’t exactly what I had planned.”
