“Thank you, and you’re right. I can’t deal with my overprotective friend without breakfast. That’s rule number one.”
Theo and I made it back to Strawberry Springs that afternoon. Joey’s text sat heavy in my phone, but we spent the drive working on what to say. By the time we were in front of my apartment, I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do.
I needed to work out the final details, but Theo promised he would do it tonight.
“I’m gonna go into the shop,” he said. “I have a few things to do. Text me if you need me earlier.”
I nodded, hands toying with my shorts. “I will.”
“Are you gonna be okay?” he asked.
“I will be. Time to think will help.”
Theo’s lips twisted, and I knew he didn’t like leaving me when I was like this.
But he would. And that was the difference.
“Want me to bring you some dinner?”
“Please,” I said. “You’re the best.”
“No, you are.” He leaned in to give me a kiss before stepping out of the car. I followed suit and went into my apartment, letting out a long breath when I was alone.
Joey couldn’t have had worse timing. Spending the night in Nashville was already more than I usually did, but him texting out of nowhere like he had didn’t help.
Part of this was of my own making. I should’ve told him about this sooner.
He was tired of waiting, apparently. He was now moving to calls. At least I’d worked out what I needed to say.
“Hey,” I said as I answered. “I saw your text and?—”
“Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer?”
He was already in a panic. It had only been a few hours. I paused before saying anything else, struggling to get my irritation under control. “I was busy with something, but I’m fine, I promise.”
“You’re always near your phone, Piper. You always answer.”
“I was near it, I was just working out what to say.”
“About what? The fact that you have a crush on that tattooed coffee shop guy?”
I rolled my eyes, glad he couldn’t see me. “Jesus, so we’re getting right into it, huh?”
“I’d probably be nicer if you’d answered faster.”
“Don’t blame this on me,” I snapped. “Maybe I should’ve said something, but I had a feeling you would act like this, and I had other things I wanted to do first.”
“Like stare at a man who won’t give you the time of day?”
My annoyance only rose, as did my anxiety. “Not give me the time of day? You’re making some big assumptions here, Joey.”
“If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t.”
“Why? Because you told him to stay away?”
He went quiet. “How did you know about that?”
“He told me this morning after you texted.”
