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I’d met Asher in passing a couple of times back when she’d been engaged to my brother’s then-best friend. But after realizing the man was a grade A jackass, she’d done herself a favor and bailed on the wedding. Owen had been there to pick up the pieces, first, because he was a good man, but mostly because he’d secretly been in love with her the whole time she’d been with her ex.
It had taken my big brother a while to pull his head out of his ass and make a move, but with a little push—aka, a hard shove and smack over the head from yours truly—he and Asher were now living their bliss, cuddled up and sickeningly in love.
It was only natural that Asher and I would grow close, given how tight my family was, and with her came Sloane and a whole slew of other women. They were dancers at a local burlesque club that was nationally known, and being close with all of them came with some serious perks, such as being able to skip the line that regularly wrapped around the building night after night, and comped drinks.
What could I say? My new friends were awesome.
Except when they were hassling me.
I shot a look at the two of them, narrowing my eyes in a glare that had no effect whatsoever. “Cut me some slack, would you? I’m nervous. Call me crazy, but meeting up with my ex-douchebag’s new woman because he wants to play house with her and my daughter isn’t exactly how I’d like to spend my day off.”
Asher reached across the table, taking my hand in hers. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see. This woman isn’t going to take Hazel from you.”
My mouth dropped open. “I’m not—” The rest of the objection dissolved on my tongue. There was no use denying it. My friends had already seen right through me to my worst fear.
“That little girl adores you. You may as well walk on water as far as she’s concerned,” Sloane assured me. “That’s a special kind of love that’s only for you and her. No one else can take your place.”
“I know that,” I said on a sigh. “Rationally, I know that. But when it comes to my daughter, I’m not always the most rational.”
Asher nodded in agreement. “That’s understandable. But you have nothing to worry about.”
I really did have the best friends in the whole world. “I can’t tell you guys how much I appreciate you coming to sit with me while I wait. I’d be going out of my mind worse than I already am if I was here alone.”
“We’ve got your back,” Sloane declared, lifting the clear red glass of soda and wrapping her lips around the straw. “Especially when you pay us back in free pizzas and soda.”
Asher elbowed her in the side. “That’s not why we’re here,” she snapped.
Sloane glowered at her, bottom lip poking out as she rubbed where Asher had just jabbed her. “Iknowthat’s not why we’re here, asshole. I was only pointing out that it’s an added bonus.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. They were too damn entertaining. Unfortunately, the show came to an end when I caught sight of Keith through the large plate glass windows that made up the front wall of Junior’s.
I puffed out a breath, steeling myself for what was to come. “Okay, guys. He’s here.”
Asher slid out of the booth. “Okay. We’ll be at the bar if you need us. Just give us a signal.”
My eyes went wide. “What kind of signal?”
The two of them looked at each other. “Uh...” Asher stared up in thought. “Maybe whistle? Like a bird call or something?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh yes, because letting out a freaking bird call in the middle of a pizzeria wouldn’t be weird at all.”
“It was just a suggestion,” she hissed back.
“Shh! There they are. Go on,” I waved them off. “Get. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.”
Sloane’s eyes brightened at the prospect of free pizza, and together, the two of them hustled to the long counter at the back of the room, hopping up on a couple of empty barstools.
One of my waitresses came over to take their order, and Sloane must have mentioned the free meal, because a second later, Carrie looked at me with an arched brow. I simply nodded, letting her know it was all good. The pizzeria could handle giving out a couple free pies every now and then. We were so established, we pulled in more than a decent profit month after month. It helped that I could pad the accounts during tourist season to make up for the leaner winter months.
I pushed to standing just as the door swung open, and my heart jumped into my throat as Keith stepped inside. He scanned the place for a second before his gaze finally landed on me, and a smile of relief washed over his face.
He held up one hand in greeting and reached behind him with another, pulling the woman who’d been tucked at his back around to his side.
I nearly swallowed my tongue at the first sight of this supposed miracle woman. Just to make sure I wasn’t imagining things, I shot a quick glance back to my friends to see their reactions, and sure enough, they were both gaping at the door, their mouths hanging open.
Asher’s head whipped around in my direction, her lips forming the words,Oh my god, because I was right. Keith’s new woman, the one who had him so desperate to change his ways, lookedexactlylike me.
“Hardin, hey.” My focus was ripped from my friends as Keith came up to me and leaned in to place a companionable kiss to my cheek. “Thanks so much for meeting us. I want you to meet my girl, Hayley.”
