Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
She didn’t know how Laila managed to do it, but she made her feel not only at ease and welcome, but like they were back in high school again and having one of their many sleepovers to discuss the boys in school.
“Hayden and I are friends. Nothing more.”
Laila shook her head back and forth, all sassy-like, while saying, “Nope, nope, nope. I am not buying it. Not this time. There’s a reason he’s here and you’re here. Get. Your. Man.” Laila banged her hand on the bar to emphasize each word.
Devorah laughed and excused herself to help fill some drink orders the servers had sent in. While she and Hayden had kissed, she wasn’t ready to admit there was anything going on between them. Mostly because she worried about how people would perceive her, and she was afraid her heart wasn’t where it should be. Not to mention, if they were even going to go down the path of dating, they’d have to have a serious conversation about their past. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Hayden or let herself become heartbroken again. They both deserved better.
When Devorah finally made it back to Laila, she had finished her drink. “Another?”
“If it means we can still talk, yes.”
Dev took the glass, emptied it, and refilled it with ice and Diet Coke. Before taking the soda back to Laila, she placed an order for nachos. Laila might as well munch on something while they chatted.
After setting the soda down, Devorah worked on a few more orders and then went to the kitchen to get the food she’d ordered. Back at the bar, she set the nachos down in front of Laila, along with two side plates and a stack of napkins.
“They’re messy but delicious,” Devy said. “At least that’s what Colt says.”
“Haven’t eaten here much?” Laila added to her plate a scoopful of the tortillas, topped with queso, chicken, bean, cheese, and lettuce.
“Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time I ate finger foods. Chad isn’t a fan. They’re beneath him.”
“He’s such a—”
“Entitled prick?” Devorah blanched at her word vomit and covered her mouth while Laila cackled. “I don’t know where that came from.”
“I know we’ve just reconnected, but I feel like this is that first over-the-hump moment when you realize your ex isn’t good for you.”
“There’s a lot I need to figure out.”
“All in good time, my friend.”
“Right, time.” Devorah sighed. “What do you do for work?”
“Aside from still working the ticket booth at the drive-in?” Laila playfully rolled her eyes. “I own the travel agency on Main Street. What about you? What did you do in Chicago?”
“Aside from volunteering for the PTA and every other school or community function, I was—or still am—an estate curator. People hire me to sell off possessions, or the state would hire me to go in and recoup as much money as possible when a ward of the state died.”
“Is that like a professional yard seller?”
Devy hated that title, but that was exactly what her job was. “Yep. I have crazy organizational skills and an eye for valuable items.”
“That sounds like a fun job, Dev. Are you going to do it here?”
She shrugged. “I guess that all depends on whether or not we stay. I still haven’t made up my mind. I can’t believe your parents still own the drive-in.” Devorah needed to steer the subject away from herself and her indecision about where she planned to live. It was something that weighed heavily on her, and the pressure made her feel like she couldn’t breathe.
“They don’t. Link and I do,” Laila said. “My parents retired to Florida. My dad fishes all day.”
Devorah looked out the window, where she could see the bay. “That water not good enough?”
“That’s what I say.” Laila slapped the bar and threw her hand up. “Who leaves the water to retire at the water? My parents. Makes zero sense.” She shook her head. “So yeah, we own it and think about closing it every now and again, but it does a decent business.”
“I had fun there. It was very nostalgic.”
“Well, we appreciate you coming.”
A few seats down, a man rapped his knuckles on the bar. Devy excused herself and went to him.
“What can I get for ya?”
“Are you the babe on the wall back there? The Pearl of the Ocean?” He held his hands up in a dancing motion.
Devorah rolled her eyes. “Funny. Do you want to order?”
The man placed an order for a burger with fries and a pint of Colt’s house special. Devorah rang his order up, sent it back to the kitchen, poured his beer, and set it down in front of him. When she walked back toward Laila, she was smiling a bit too much for Dev’s liking.
“I knew it was only a matter of time.”