Ember gestured to the bartender for another drink and made a noncommittal noise in her throat. “They’re both working double shifts. But it’s alright. My neighbors watch the kids when I get a call or have to go to class.”
“Are your parents still giving you a hard time about going back to school to become a paramedic?” I asked Ember.
She glared at Charlie, who shrugged, which caused her shoulders to brush against my chest. I brushed her hair off her shoulder absently and pressed a kiss to the bare skin there.
Layla and Ember shared wide-eyed looks, but Charlie was too dazed by the casual show of affection to notice. I was glad she wasn’t concerned about me kissing her in public. That was progress.
Ember managed to answer despite her surprise. “They don’t understand why I want to go back to school when I’m already making decent money.”
“You mean they’re disappointed you don’t devote all of your time to raising their kids?” Layla corrected.
“We’re family,” Ember replied with a shrug. Her voice cut out and I glanced over my shoulder to see what caught her eye. Tripp and the blonde were in a very passionate lip-lock in a darkened corner. When I glanced back at Ember, a shadow crossed her expression but- it was gone as soon as it appeared. “Besides,” she said with faux cheerfulness, “I like Tabby and Nolan. They keep me entertained when Greg is busy and I’m not working.”
“You know I’m happy to babysit anytime you need help,” Charlie offered.
Charlie’s friends weren’t my besties or anything, but they were sweet girls who mean a lot to Charlie. So when her offer to Ember made the sweet redhead’s sharp green eyes go watery a burst of pride filled my chest. Charlie wasn’t just a good friend to me, she was a good person in general.
“Now she’s making me look bad,” Layla said. “Fine, I’ll help you, too. But I do not change any diapers.”
We all shared a laugh.
“I think you’re safe there,” Ember told her. “The twins were potty trained by two.”
The two of them had broken the somber mood and managed to distract Ember from Tripp escorting his newest lady out of the restaurant. I doubt Charlie had forgotten about my applying to schools, but she had to know that. Right? My goal was to attend a school here in Florida, if possible, but I’d go wherever afforded me the best opportunity. It was something we’d need to talk about…later. For now, we had a couple hours, an open bar, and some bad food to distract us.
“Layla,” came a sharp voice that reminded me all too much of a snake. “Layla Lucille Tate!”
I turned to Layla, who unceremoniously downed the rest of her drink. “You’re middle name’s Lucille?” I asked with a grin.
She grimaced. “I hate you.”
“Don’t worry,” Charlie rubbed her arm. “We’ll be right here.”
Layla squared her shoulders and sighed as she crossed the bar area to a woman who must be her infamous mother. She was the spitting image of Layla, only a more severe version. Her dark hair was twisted into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. On Layla the sharp jut of her chin emphasized her fairy-like appearance. On her mother, the sharper edges of her jaw and cheekbones seemed as hard as steel and just as unforgiving.
“What’s the story there?” I asked Charlie, who’d turned to lean her back against my arm on the bar.
Ember rolled her eyes and Charlie said, “Layla’s mom wants her to go into finance, but Layla refuses. She’s wanted to be a teacher her whole life and her mom likes to give her a hard time about it.”
I watched as Layla’s mom pushed her forward with a claw at the small of Layla’s back. A group of fancy suit-types accepted her with fake smiles and her mom beamed proudly. My dad may be overly obsessed with me following in his footsteps, but he’d never treated me like an object or a prize. We didn’t get along about everything, but he loved me in his own way. For the first time in a long time, I felt a shred of tenderness for the old bastard.
Maybe I’d give him a call soon.
“I’m gonna go keep an eye on our girl,” Ember said as she polished off her own drink, leaving Charlie and I alone.
I twisted around until I had her pinned between me and the bar. “Having a good time?” I asked as I took in the rosiness of her lips and wondered if she’d let me kiss her again. If not here, then when we were back at home, alone.
Suddenly I was very appreciative of my moment of genius. Maybe having her move in with me was the best idea I’d had in forever.
She licked her lips and nodded. “I am. Thank you for coming with me.”
“Should we help Lay and Ember?” The bar wasn’t that loud, but I leaned closer like I was having a hard time hearing her. It made me smile when her breath caught in her throat. I enjoyed how much I affected her way too much and wondered if her heart was racing, too.
“What?”
I smiled. “Should we go save Layla from her mom?”
Charlie lifted a hand to my chest and rested it over my heart. Could she tell it was pounding, that she’d brought it back to life? Raised voices from behind me tore me away as I was about to lean down for another taste of her mouth.
