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I lean back against the booth and study her. I’m reminded of the young girl I left behind all those years ago. Her honey brown hair is pulled away from her face, hiding under a red weathered ball cap. I want to knock the damn thing off her head as it casts a pesky shadow across her beautiful eyes.
“You missed me that much?”
She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “You know damn well we all missed you, Ringer.”
“I didn’t ask if other people missed me. I asked ifyoumissed me, Princess.”
She doesn’t answer me with words. But the way she doesn’t pull her gaze from mine gives me all the answers I need.
I decide to take it easy on her, shifting my eyes around the bakery once again. “This place is kick ass.”
Lilah’s beaming smile overtakes her face as she looks around her shop. I have no doubt she’s looking at it as if she’s taking it all in for the first time, like I am. “Thank you! I’ve worked so hard on it.”
“I can tell. You did an amazing job, babe.”
“I had a ton of help from my dad and the club. Your dad actually helped me find most of the decor from different antique and vintage markets. My dad and I took a trip with him to Phoenix one weekend and went to a huge vintage and craft show. I was in absolute heaven.”
I point at her shirt. “Seems your style hasn’t totally changed since you were younger.”
She rolls her eyes playfully. That’s one thing I do remember very clearly about her. She rolls her eyes so goddamn much I’m surprised they don’t get stuck in the back of her damn head.
“I still wear all the same stuff. I just make it fit me better,” she shrugs.
I finish off the last bit of my coffee. “I like your style. It’s sexy as fuck.”
Her cheeks stain a beautiful pink. “Thanks.”
After a few beats of silence, Lilah sits up straight. “Have you heard anything about Pebbles? How is she doing?”
I shrug, linking my fingers together on the table in front of me. “I talked to Ghost this morning. He was going over there to check on her. In my opinion, I think everyone needs to leave her the fuck alone. I’m not a woman, but I feel like if that shit happened to me, the last thing I’d want is a shit load of people up my fucking ass.”
Lilah nods in agreement. “Same. I just feel so bad. I want to reach out, but I don’t want to make things worse.”
“Just message her and let her know you’re there for her whenever she’s ready. That way she knows you care, but you’re not up her ass like everyone else.”
Our conversation is interrupted as the woman with black hair that I met at the party comes over to our table and slides in next to Lilah. “I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast.”
Lilah waves her off and scoots over giving her more room. “No worries, Sash. What’s up?”
“I have to head to Sedona for a week. My mom just called. Dad’s not doing too well in his current nursing home. I need to get him moved to another one.”
“Oh no! I hope everything’s okay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help,” Lilah says.
“I’m sure it will be fine. I just feel bad taking off on such short notice, and especially on this weekend of all weekends.”
“Shit,” Lilah croaks. “I forgot about that.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“We have a huge wedding in Vegas this weekend,” Lilah says, visibly pained.
“Maybe I can call my mom back and see if we can just figure it out next week.”
“No!” Lilah chirps. “Family comes first always, Sasha. Go get your dad taken care of. I’ll be fine.”
“Only if you're sure,” Sasha says worriedly.
“Of course. Why don’t you take off early and go pack? Mikey can help me close up.”
