Page 39 of Don't You Want Me, Baby?

He held out his glass and clinked it against hers.

‘Bottoms up,’ she said, trying to be breezy. Recitingfriend, friend, friendover and over in her head.

‘Yeah, I think this might come to that,’ he grimaced. ‘This stuff looks like it could explode your colon.’

They both took a tentative sip.Eugh.The milk was already curdling in the glass. ‘Mmmm,’ she faked, swallowing it and trying to look impressed.

‘Mmmm?’ Ty looked like he just sucked a lemon. ‘It tastes like that bad goat’s cheese starter we ate that time. Call yourself a landlady?’

She remembered that. Bradley had dragged them out to some new opening. They’d all been sick the next day. Tyler had come over and held her hair back while she vomited. The memory combined with the cocktail make her stomach flip.

‘Yes!’ she defended. ‘It’s not that bad.’

‘Your customers are going to throw up all over your brand-newfurnishings the second this crap touches their lips.’ He took the glass from her and tipped them down the sink. ‘My turn. A classic.’

He got to work as she watched, taking in the music as she swilled her mouth out with a drink from her own water bottle. He passed her a shot glass. ‘Here, Slippery Nipple. Down the hatch. Get the taste of that nut milk off your palate.’

She shook her head, smirking as they necked the shots.

‘Ahh,’ they said in unison. ‘Better.’

They cracked out laughing the second they clocked their unity. ‘Fair enough.’ She nodded. ‘One to you. Another? I have an idea for a twist on a Tequila Sunrise.’

‘Ooooh, that could work. People love the classics. More music?’

Another song she liked had started, and she shook her head. ‘No, I quite like this album. It’s pretty eclectic though, what’s it called again?’

‘Playlist, I told you. Want some help? I can wash some of this stuff up?’

‘Sure.’ She thought about how much he’d helped her lately. He’d given her so much of his time recently. ‘You sure you didn’t have plans tonight? Your nights off are as rare as mine.’

Filling the sink with suds, he shrugged. ‘Nope. I have nowhere else to be.’ He gave her a wink. ‘Now get to work on those Sunrises, boss. Let’s make a real night of it, while you still have the time.’

He busied himself with the washing up, and she studied him for a while. It was so nice having him here. She’d gotten used to having him around. The best parts of her days involved him. She found herself wishing that didn’t have to change.

As if he sensed her thoughts, he turned to her with an inquisitive brow. ‘You okay?’

She got to work on the cocktails. ‘Yep, I’m good. I’m going to miss this, though. Working together, hanging out.’

He paused, his hands stilling in the soapy water. ‘Nothing’s set in stone yet.’

‘I know, but you’ll move on soon. We both will. I’ll be… doing my thing, you’ll be working somewhere else.’

He focused back on the washing up, his jaw clenching before he spoke again. ‘I’ll still be in your life.’

He shot her a nod, but it wasn’t an easy motion. She felt like he was holding something back, and she didn’t like the feeling. ‘I’m happy for you too, Ty. You deserve everything you want.’

He huffed out a breath. ‘I don’t think anyone gets that, Cherry.’ He raised his dark eyes to bore into hers. The things unsaid between them choked the very air they breathed. ‘But.’ His lips quirked, and she could draw breath once more. ‘You can write me a killer reference.’

15

The Sunrise cocktails were pretty good. The second round was even better, and the third sublime.

‘Hang on, hang on.’ He sloshed a bit of his cocktail on the photo album, tutting as he used his flannel-clad arm to wipe it away. Backs to the couch, they were sitting cross-legged on the floor going down memory lane. ‘That’s you? No way.’

‘Yes way!’ Amber laughed. ‘I’m telling you, that’s me!’

‘Geez, I thought your grandparents loved you!’

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