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“And here I thought you wanted me to hook up with him—"
She laughs. “Oh, I do. It’d be good for him to get the stick out of his ass. But he is the most stubborn man I have ever met.”
“I know, right? God! He makes me crazy about that. It’s like, just listen to me. I know what I’m talking about. But no, he has to put his foot down and get his way, when he won’t even tell me exactly what it is he wants!”
She smirks again. “Sounds absolutely awful.”
“Then why are you smirking?”
“Because when you describe him, your face gets red.” She sips her coffee again.
And I feel it in my cheeks. She’s right. “I’m just warm.”
“Yep.”
“I don’t know you well enough for you to tease me this hard.”
She laughs. “Oh, I think I do.”
I laugh and roll my eyes at her, and the door hits the bell on the frame as it opens. Being in prime people viewing position, we both glance beyond the potted plants toward the door. But I can’t see past the plant in my sightline.
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20
ELSIE
“Speak of the devil,” Lily murmurs.
Beau walks to the counter and orders a coffee and a sandwich. His assistant must be taking another day off.
This isn’t happening. Yesterday was a mistake. We should talk about it. But I’m not ready for that conversation. Hell, maybe we should never talk about it. We’re mature adults. We can avoid topics. It’s our prerogative to handle this how we want.Stop panicking!
Now is not the time to handle anything, and I scoot down into the couch so he doesn’t see me. It’s easy to do since the springs inside the couch failed long ago.Don’t see me, don’t see me—
“He’s on his phone. He won’t see you.”
I frown. “How did you know I don’t want him to see me?”
“Because you’re hiding. Like a chicken.”
“I am not hiding—"
She silences me with a look. “Uh, huh. I know what hiding to stay out of trouble looks like. You’re hiding.”
“Stop sayinghidingso much. I’m not doing that.” I hear a paper bag crinkling near the counter and peek. He’s leaving. Thank God—"
“If you’re not hiding, then you won’t mind when I do this.” She leans over and waves, “Beau? Over here!”
I snipe, “You suck!” earning her giggles. I might have actually been mad if Beau didn’t look so handsome today. But he does. Just like always. Which is why he’s so dangerous to be around.
Too late to run. He’s coming over. He smirks when he sees me wedged into the couch. “Oh, hey, Lily. Elsie, I didn’t see you down there. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yes. Just, um, stretching.” I sit up.
“I’ve never seen someone crumple their body and call it a stretch.”
“Tweaked my back yesterday.Exercising.”
