Page 36 of Broken

“At her kid’s party? Not a chance.”

Petal frowned. “How do you know her?”

“The club needed some work done. She was the onewho arrived, fixed the plumbing.” He shrugged. “She didn’t take any shit fromthe guys and told Warden he needed to teach his men some respect.”

This didn’t surprise Petal.

“Do you know if the dad is in the picture?” Mythasked.

“I don’t even know who the dad is. I don’t know ifanyone knows who the dad is.”

She was being honest. She didn’t have a clue.

Myth nodded.

“It doesn’t stop you from going and asking herout.”

“Not at her kid’s party.”

She frowned. “Are you nervous?”

“I don’t get nervous.”

“You and I have been hanging out and you haven’tasked a woman who appearsverysingle out on a date.I don’t know what that means to you, but to me, that tends to mean nerves.”

Myth shook his head.

“You’re not going to ask her.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“What if I ask her on your behalf? Would thatwork?” Petal asked.

“Don’t. We’re not in high school.”

Petal laughed. She held her hands up. “You shoulddo it. At the end of the day, what is the worst that could happen?”

“I get rejected.”

“Or, she says ‘hell yes!’” Petal smiled at Myth.

She liked him. They were not as close as her andRosalie. She wouldn’t dream of changing her clothes in front of him or having asleepover, but she did consider him her friend. They had their own kind offriendship.

Myth checked the time. “I’ve got to go. Don’tinterfere.” He handed her some money, which she took. She paid his bill andhanded him the change.

“I don’t interfere. You should know that by now,even though I really, really, really want to.”

He shook his head but didn’t say another word.

Petal wouldn’t meddle. That was not who she was,at least not with Myth. If he didn’t want her talking with Tanya, she wouldn’t.

The party ended, the parents thanked Tanya, andslowly the kids left. Petal made her way over to the corner. Tanya’s littlegirl was sitting at the table, coloring.

“Thank you,” Tanya said, already helping to cleanthe mess.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re our customer, and Ican clean this up.”

“I can’t let you do all of that.”

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