“Hey lady, we’re meeting at the diner in fifteen.”
I smirk at the fact that she doesn’t even ask if I want to go, just assumes. “Okay, I’ll be there.”
She hangs up without a word. Typical. So rude. Not that I care. I’m actually glad that she called. Lunch with the girls will definitely distract me from my worrying over Torin.
Maybe.
* * *
“You’re what?” Ana shrieks, drawing the attention of every person in the diner. Which, of course, is packed because everyone comes to Burnt Sugar for lunch, seeing as it’s the only restaurant for miles.
“Shhh,” I hiss. “Just tell the whole world!”
“I’m just… shocked. I mean, wow. Torin? Really?”
I furrow my brow. “What’s that supposed to mean? Is it really so shocking that he would offer me a place to stay?”
“Oh honey,” Ana wraps her arm around my shoulders. “I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just surprised that you would agree.”
Prue nods. “You’ve been in love with the man since you were in your mom’s womb,” she says through a big bite of her burger. “Pardon us for being shocked. None of us could’ve guessed our shy little Lani is staying with the man she’s avoided for years even though you’re perfect for each other.”
“I haven’t avoided him.”
“Really?” Margo levels me a sardonic look.
“Okay, maybe a little,” I concede. “In my defense, he’s way out of my league. Not to mention I’m awkward and shy and just… me.”
“You mean, quirky and beautiful and the sweetest person we know?” Ana corrects.
“Sure, we can go with that.”
“How long are you staying there?” Prue asks.
I shrug. “Until my apartment is fixed up.”
“So you have a week, maybe two to make him fall in love with you so you can get married and make babies.”
“Prue!” both Ana and Margo scold.
“What? We all know that’s what she wants.”
“How about we talk about Margo and Amos and give your good friend Lani a break?” I ask, hopefully.
Prue being Prue jumps right at the chance to question Margo. Who, of course, has been sneaking looks at the kitchen window trying to catch a glimpse of him since we sat down.
Margo sighs. “There’s nothing to talk about. Seriously, guys. Amos doesn’t like me that way. He sees me as a little sister or something.”
We give her three looks of disbelief. “Margo, the man is gone for you. He looks at you the same way Lani looks at Torin.”
I kick Prue under the table. “I don’t look at him any sort of way. Besides, we are talking about Margo now, not me!”
She just laughs. “Like you can control who I talk about.”
“Then why hasn’t he asked me out?” Margo asks, looking forlornly at the pass-through window again.
“Maybe he’s shy?” I offer.
Ana rolls her eyes. “That man doesn’t even know the definition of shy. I think he’s waiting for her to make a move. He doesn’t want to scare her off.”
“Ugh. I can’t make the first move! What if you’re wrong and he really doesn’t like me that way? He’s never even hinted that he wants to date or whatever. He just sort of grunts and growls at me when he checks over his daily orders. If we’re wrong, I’ll never be able to face him again. I’ll have to move to Canada and live out my days in a shack in the mountains. I don’t want to have to do that. It’s cold there,” she whines.
We all laugh at her ridiculousness, causing her to laugh too. “The worst that will happen is you have an awkward conversation, and then life moves on,” I say.
Prue raises her brow at me. “I feel like I’ve heard this somewhere before… Oh yeah, I’ve said this same thing to you a million times! Does this mean you finally get it?”
I chew on my bottom lip…
“Oh my God! You made a move?”
I shake my head, knowing my cheeks are pink.
“He made a move?”
I nod with a small smile.
“Holy shit,” Prue says loud enough that heads turn toward us again.
Now I’m really blushing. “Keep it down,” I whisper shout. “I don’t know if he wants anyone to know.”
“We aren’t anyone. Dish, girl.” I look wide-eyed at Ana. She’s usually the least assuming of us, preferring to quietly take things in. She’s one of those people that only speaks when she has something to say. Unless it’s to push Margo about Amos… I chalk that up to Amos being like a big brother to her, and she wants two of the people she loves to be happy.
Knowing they won’t give up until I talk. I tell them about the kiss after the fire. How sweet he was and the embarrassing panty incident that Prue found ridiculously funny because she’s a jerk like that. They oooh and ahh over him asking—well telling—me to stay at his place. Margo gives me a happy-sad look when I tell them about how he made my tea perfect and knew my favorite books.
I feel bad for her. She really is love-sick over Amos. Hopefully, one of them will break the little dance they’ve been playing soon. I want her to be as happy as I am.
Wait? Am I happy? I do a little search for the melancholiness I’ve been feeling for weeks, and, sure enough, it’s gone. A little thrill shoots through me knowing that Torin is the reason for breaking me out of my funk. Despite being displaced from my home and the terror from the night of the fire, he makes me feel safe and cared for… dare I say, loved? I shake my head. No, it’s too soon for that… but maybe.
A little niggling bit of doubt creeps in. I really am happy, but what if that’s not a good thing. What if whatever this doesn’t work out with Torin? What if he doesn’t want the same thing I want? What do I even want? I know it’s not something I want temporarily.
