“Mmmhmmm,” she hums, returning the hug. “Tell my son to get his head out of his ass, okay?”
Snorting, I release my hold and look at her as if she’s been replaced by an alien. “Ms. McCoy! Did you just swear?”
“Sure did, and I’ll do it again if it means my son grows a pair! Tell him to give me a call, will ya? Seems he and I need to have a little chat.”
“Then call him,” I return. “‘Cause I’m not going to be your messenger girl this time. See ya later!”
Exasperated, she waves me goodbye. “Bye, Charlie.”
“Hey! Sorry, I’m late!” I call out as soon as I swing the Get Baked door open.
“No worries!” Indie replies as she hands a customer some change. “Thanks for coming! I hope you enjoy the muffins!”
Once the customer exits past me, I approach the counter and grab an employee apron off the hooks lining the side wall behind the register.
Wiping off the fingerprints on the glass counter, Indie asks, “So did you get your phone?”
“Yeah, but how did you know about that?”
“Levi stopped by to let me know in case I texted you or anything.”
“Well, that was…thoughtful of him.” My face blushes as memories of the night before rise to the surface.
“I thought the same thing. Don’t get me wrong; he’s always thoughtful but,”—she wags her finger at my face—“your reaction to his name is a little out of the ordinary this morning. Are you guys doing okay?”
The knowing look with a side of mirth painted across her face makes my cheeks redden even further.
“Uh…yup.” I pop the ‘P’ at the end. Ass vibrating and reminding me of my insane assumption last night with Levi, a giggle bursts out of me as I pull my phone out of my back pocket.
I think I’m gonna die from embarrassment.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Levi says you’re a kickass texter. I told him he’s full of shit cuz you still haven’t responded.
“Liar,” Indie teases, bringing my attention back to her. “Are you texting him?”
“No. It’s his friend, actually.”
“Seriously?” She doesn’t bother to hide her surprise.
I nod.
“Ooo…things just got interesting. Fill me in!” Resting her elbows against the counter that separates us, her eyes shine with intrigue.
“You’re as bad as Suzette from Forever Grey! Nosy little buggers.”
With a wicked cackle, she says, “Damn straight. And don’t you forget it. I learned from the best.”
“The best?”
“Sophie and Natalie. Natalie’s the girl you replaced,” she clarifies. “And you don’t know Sophie that well because your shifts don’t usually overlap, but when those two girls get together, it’s like the Spanish Inquisition. They can smell a lie––and the latest gossip––from a mile away. I guess it rubbed off. Now.” She claps her hands. “Chop, chop. Fill me in! Who’s the friend?”
“The friend is Conner.”
“Aaand?” she prods.
“And he’s been trying to get my number for a little while now. Yesterday, I gave Levi permission to give it to him.”
“Why the hell did you do that? I thought you….” Her voice trails off, and she clams up, debating whether she should finish her sentence or not.