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So now we sat around a long table, eating all-you-can-eat Chinese food.

Trudy’s eyes kept moving between the guys and me. I knew, just knew, Maya had already run her mouth about what she thought of me starting something with the four of them.

If she only knew…

“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Trudy said, pushing mushrooms around on her plate. “I thought you’d take over the shop since Shane moved.”

I glanced at Ezra.

He’d told me Lymsrana worked her magic concerning Shane with Diane and the girls. Apparently, they thought he’d had a family emergency and needed to relocate without notice. Diane said she never saw movers, but figured he’d handle it once the family drama died down.

Not likely.

“I didn’t plan to stay with the shop forever,” I said, choosing the truth. I didn’t want to spend my whole life working in a trinket shop.

“Don’t blame you,” Maya said. “Soon as I save enough money, I’m moving to the coast.”

“Your mama isn’t gonna let you get away with that.”

She pointed her fork at me. “I’m taking Ma with me. She wants to retire with sand between her toes.” She looked at Ash. “So, you guys heading back home?”

“Yeah. It’s time we got home. Duty calls.”

“I hear that. Work sucks,” Maya said, oblivious to his real meaning. “Think you’ll come back to the Carolinas?”

“Maybe one day,” Ezra said when her gaze landed on him.

Zeke came back to the table, taking his seat. “They have so much food.”

“You can go back, you know,” Cyn said, eyeing the mountain of food on Zeke’s plate.

I caught Trudy’s dreamy look as she watched Zeke dig in.

Maya’s foot nudged my shin, and she raised her brows at me, mouthing, “Oh my god.”

My eyes widened, and I shook my head, urging her not to make a big deal of it.

She rolled her eyes, sat back, and took a long sip of her tea.

The rest of dinner went much the same.

The guys answered questions about everything from food to movie plots with Trudy, while I fielded Maya’s curiosity, trying not to reveal too much while also avoiding outright lies.

Cyn caught onto Trudy’s crush on Zeke, but since Zeke stayed oblivious, Cyn didn’t act up like I expected. Maybe he could be diplomatic when necessary.

By the end of dinner, my chest tightened with the knowledge I’d likely never see Maya or Trudy again. So when Maya wrapped her arms around me beside her car, squeezing tight, I let her.

“You look happier,” she whispered in my ear.

“Do I?”

“I’ve seen you happy, but I’ve also seen you pretend to be happy more often. This is different.” She smiled at me. “They’re good for you.”

I glanced at the guys standing around Trudy as she rambled about something I couldn’t hear, giggling anytime Zeke spoke.

“Take care of her,” I said, deflecting from myself.

“You know I will.” Maya squeezed my arm, drawing my attention away from Trudy. “Promise you’ll keep in touch as much as you can.”