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“Amen,” I say with a nod, just as the waitress appears to take our orders.
When she leaves, a shadow falls across the table.
I glance up to see a stranger. A very big, very handsome, very serious-looking stranger.
He nods to Georgia. “Evening.”
“Des,” Georgia says, smiling politely. “Everyone, this is my new landlord, Desmond. He’s Mr. and Mrs. Thomas’s grandson.”
Mac shakes the man’s hand. He nods to us all and meets Georgia’s gaze again. “I’ve been meaning to catch up with you since we last ran into each other,” he says. “Was everything okay? That guy—”
“It was fine,” Georgia hurries to respond. “Just an old friend.”
I frown. What happened? I wish Simone were here; she’d have no shame about demanding answers and mining for gossip.
“Old friend?” Piper asks. “Who’s that?”
“Oh, you know.” Georgia waves a hand before picking up her glass of water. She takes a long drink, her shoulders tight. “It was no one.”
Hmm. It wasn’t no one. It was Sebastian. Georgia meets my gaze, and her face clearly says,Please don’t say his name.
I give her a subtle nod and turn to Des. “How long have you been in town? I haven’t seen you around before.”
“Today is my fourth day,” he answers. “I used to come here as a kid to visit my grandparents, but I haven’t been back in a long time. The place has changed a lot in the last decade.”
Mac grunts in agreement. “You can say that again. I’ve watched it change and sometimes still can’t believe it.”
“Hey,” I chide. “You say it like it’s a bad thing, but I’m one of those changes.”
Mac grins. “It’s not a bad thing.” His foot nudges mine under the table, his eyes soft.
“Well, would you like to join us?” Piper asks Des. “We can squeeze another…” Her voice trails off, eyes on the doorway. Shock paints itself over her face, quickly followed by anger.
Georgia follows her sister’s gaze, and all the blood drains from her face. I do the same and do a double take.
Sebastian Finch is standing in the entrance, his gaze glued on Georgia. After a moment, his eyes slowly shift to burn through her landlord.
Des doesn’t look bothered. He blinks slowly, holding Sebastian’s gaze, then casually grabs a chair from the next table and plants it next to Georgia’s. He sits slowly, casually, like he’s been here all along.
The air turns electric. I can feel it humming all around us like a physical entity. A utensil clatters against the floor. Even the two boys turn silent.
“Here we go!” a waitress calls out cheerily, bearing plates of divine-smelling food. “Who ordered the carnitas?”
There’s an awkward shuffle as plates of food are dropped in front of their owners, and all the while, tension buzzes in the air. Sebastian turns to the takeout line. When I glance over at him next, his eyes are once again drawn to Georgia and the man beside her.
He doesnotlook happy.
Ireallywish Simone were here.
I know, I know. It probably makes me a terrible person to think that. There’s some kind of family drama playing out right now, and I shouldn’t be wishing they had an even bigger audience. But still. Simone would say something outrageous, make everyone laugh, and put both Georgia and Sebastian at ease.
Either that, or she’d pull out her phone and start recording.
Instead, the tension grows thick enough to slice—especially after Sebastian’s done ordering at the counter, and he comes swaggering over toward us. “Evenin’, folks.”
There’s a long silence, so I clear my throat. “Sebastian. Nice to see you.”
Blinking at me, as if he hadn’t even noticed me (ouch, my ego), Sebastian gives me a tight nod. “Katrina. Mac.”
