I rinse another dish and hand it to her. “It’s. . .ok. Nothing big has happened, so. . . ”
“Those pics of you two are something.”
She’s enjoying this, and I want to pinch her.
Pictures of Cole and me from the game are spreading like wildfire, and the rumor mill is panting to find out who I am.
“It’s not a big deal. I’m just doing my job.” That actually sounded pretty convincing.
“Well, you looked pretty.” She smiles. “He seems really nice.”
I bump her with my hip. “You’re such a dreamer.”
She laughs. “One of us has to be.” She puts a plate in the dishwasher. “How are the nights?”
I know what she’s asking. “Some nights are easier than others. I’m starting to sleep more than not.”
She nods, getting it.
“What’s going on with you? How’s the coffee shop?” I force a change in subject.
Her voice drops to a whisper. “My mom called again.”
“Really? How is she?”
“Ok. It was nice to talk to her.” She pauses, glancing over her shoulder. “The apartment over the shop is opening up.”
I search her face. “Yeah? You’re thinking about it?”
Her head falls to the side as she takes another plate. “It would make things easier and. . .I don’t know. I guess I want to see if I can do it. Be brave, and figure out what’s next.” She shrugs. “I could get a dog.”
Jamie hopes to buy the coffee shop one day when the owners retire. This would be a step toward that for her.
“It’d be weird not having you across the hall.”
A small smile creeps across her mouth. “You’ve got someone else across the hall now.”
My head falls back, and I withhold a groan.
Lyla sticks her head in between us. “If you two are over here whispering about the gorg football player, I want in, so spill?”
“Me, too,” Jos pops in.
“Hey! I see you. No goods without me,” Van yells from the table.
“You all can keep that girly shit at your house where I can’t hear.” Track says returning to the kitchen.
He tries to sound irritated, but he loves our giant, suffocating cloud of estrogen.
“Ryder, I need a minute.”
“Ha.” I dry my hands on a towel and then whip Lyla in the butt with it before handing it off. “Gotta get those pretty hands dirty. It’s what you get for being nosy.”
I scoot away before she can snap me back, catching Cole’s eye as I follow Track outside. I join him in the large screened-in porch with a table, outdoor kitchen, and pool.
He shoves his hands in his pockets, staring at the blue water. “I want a real update. Are you eating and sleeping?”
“Yes, sir. Showering and brushing my teeth, too.”
