Page 149 of Pretty Little Lies

Mae’s head shoots up like a rocket. “I’m hungry!”

My lips crack into an immediate smile through a shitty situation at her loud-ass voice. “Alright, big mouth. Wanna go the cafeteria?”

“Yeah.” She places the tablet onto the seat beside her and begins to slide off, but my hands land on her little knees, and I stare back at matching blues and sweet freckles.

“Daddy is gonna be here for a while,” I tell them both, but keep my focus on Mae so she understands. “It’s just gonna be us girls for a little while.”

“Girls’ night?” she asks me with raised brows, excitement trimming around her tone.

“Sure, absolutely,” I agree. “Girls’ night. We’ll watch movies and get pizza. And we’ll make sure the house is clean for when Dad comes home.”

“How long?” Ellie asks, her voice alluding to the fact that she’s not as naive as Mae. That she understands it’s serious with the ambulance that arrived and Levi bringing them here.

“I’m not sure yet,” I reply. “But I’ll ask the doctor, okay?”

“Can I get cake?” Mae asks. “Do they have cake?”

“I—”

“We’ll take them.” My neck cranes upward to find Cairo next to Ellie’s chair, peering down at me with nothing in his stare. “You should be here when the doctor comes.”

I’m struck stupid by him being anything but an asshole to me.

“I’ll take them,” adds another male voice with so much irritation in his tone, that I knew it was going to be a long night before, but now… “This is South Shore business. We take care of our own.”

A large body steps between me and the man whose attitude problem gives me whiplash when Levi comes into full view. His massive shoulders hold no room for argument, and I’d love tosee how we spin this because his reasoning for being here—there is none.

“I think you resigned from that position,” Torin retorts, stepping in on Cairo’s side. “Besides, it’ll be good for us to get to know them better, since the princess of South Shore has become well acquainted with us.”

“Are you now?” Levi emits solemnly, and I’m surprised he didn’t lunge in response to that. “Well, we can talk about that arrangement outside after the girls eat.” He turns to Ellie. “Juice and Rod are right down the hallway waiting for you. I’ll be there soon.”

“Levi,” I warn, because this ploy aside, I don’t need this right now, and the girls don’t either.

My best friend turns his body and extends a hand to help me to my feet when Juice and Hot Rod come into view. Standing farther back on the other side of the hall, where a nurse’s station is set up, quietly watching the scene.

I hesitate, because I can feel three other pairs of eyes on me. Torin and Reeve aren’t going to like me taking his so-called kindness.

“How’s your dad?” Levi asks me with his arm still outstretched. As if he didn’t beat me to the hospital.

“Why do you care?” I mutter, finally take his hand because being hunched down all night isn’t going to help. “And why are you here?”

“I like your dad,” he deadpans, and in his green eyes, he’s just as anxious as I am. And as much as I want to comfort him, we’re nottogether.

“We’re…broken up, Levi. You don’t need to be here.”

He drops his hand when I’ve fully risen to stand. “And you expect me to leave you and your sisters with these three fucks?”

“You did before.”

“Juicy!” Mae exclaims behind him. “We’re having girls’ night!”

Looking around Levi, Juice smiles and purposely bumps into Torin’s shoulder while reaching for her hand. “Girls’ night? Can I come?”

“Nooo,” Mae laughs, bouncing up on the balls of her heels. “It’sgirls’nights. You’re a boy.”

“But he can come too, right, Bay?” Ellie asks from a few feet away. “He brings the giant cookie from the pizza place.”

“Ellie, you usin’ me for my baked goods?” Juice teases her with narrowed eyes. “I thought I taught younotto tell people why you’re using them for things.”

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