Page 13 of Big Trouble
“I don’t think so.” I frowned.
Ciara laughed. “Lo, meet Lyla.”
I gritted my teeth.Great, another person who probably won’t speak to me.“Hi, Lyla, good to meet you.”
“You too.” She slid into the booth while I slid into the other side and Ciara sat next to me.
“Lo’s a PT too, she works with me,” explained Ciara.
“And Ciara very kindly lets me stay in her apartment. For a moderate rent, of course.”
Lyla nodded. “I won’t sit with you guys all night. I’m waiting for Maddox, but he’s late. Again.”
I guessed that was her boyfriend. “Oh, it’s fine you can stay if you want.” The bar has started to fill up. “Looks like it might get busy.”
“Thanks, Lo. I know Maddox will want to eat when he finally gets here, so if you don’t mind us sitting here, that’s great.”
“Of course not. It’s good to meet some new people.” I lied through my teeth.
“Oh, how long have you been here?”
“Around a month. It’s been a pretty busy time, what with the new job, finding a place to stay and all that kind of stuff.”
Lyla nodded. “Yeah, it’s tough to get yourself established here if you don’t know anyone.”
Someone who understood how I felt!I began to warm to Lyla, despite my initial reservations.
We chatted about work and the town until our food arrived. I learned Lyla worked in a boutique and she’d promised me I could use her staff discount if I stopped by. It was amazing how such a small gesture could make me feel less of an outsider.
“God, I hope Maddox hurries up, I’m starving,” Lyla said with a sigh.
I pushed my plate towards her. “Have some fries if you want, I don’t think I’ll eat them all.”
Gratefully, she shoveled a few into her mouth. “What brings you out on a weeknight anyway?”
Ciara and I exchanged a glance. I didn’t know how well Lyla knew Jack Cairney, so I didn’t want to say anything out of turn.
“Lo had a really rough day,” began Ciara.
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“She had a new client today.” Ciara paused for dramatic effect. “Jack Cairney.”
Lyla’s jaw dropped. “He’s back?”
Ciara nodded. “With an even shittier attitude than before.”
“Ouch. He can be a pain in the ass.”
“He reduced me to tears within ten minutes of arriving.” I don’t know what made me blurt out the truth to Lyla. I barely knew the girl. But there was something cathartic about saying the words out loud.
“Seriously? What did he do?”
“What did who do?”
A male voice broke into our conversation and the three of us turned. The way Lyla lit up when she saw him, I was guessing he was Maddox. And if it wasn’t, then this was the guy she should be dating. She threw herself at him and kissed him full on the mouth, before turning back to the table.
“Jack made Lo cry,” she announced.
