Page 12 of Worth the Heat
Arianna: See you tonight for girls night, Mrs. Garcia!
Me: Aren’t you a funny girl.
Fuck.
“I can only stayfor one hour. I’m pooped,” I announce as I drop my bag and slide into the booth next to Arianna. Kate and Hannah sit across the table. My sister, Gianna, rarely comes to our girls nights because of her husband’s paramedic schedule. “Is Nat going to make it?”
“No,” Hannah says with a frown. “Two kids have a stomach bug, and Alex has to work an extra shift tonight. I’m sure she wishes she were anywhere but home.”
Yuck. I’d volunteer to help, but I’m not the best with vomit.
I’m also not the best with kids.
I enjoy being an aunt to the constantly growing brood my siblings keep popping out, but I bet if they are honest, none of them would say I’m their favorite aunt. I’m not outgoing like Arianna and Natalie, and I don’t have the wonderful southern patience Hannah has from growing up in Georgia. Kate is justnaturally good with kids, and Gianna has a peaceful quality that seems to bring everyone happiness.
Then there’s me. I’m introverted, rarely sarcastic, and I don’t have kids of my own. I’m not even sure I want children. A moot point, considering I’d need to find a man that was willing to participate in the construction of a child. After the Rick and Amelia debacle, I’m taking a break from the dating scene. I’m expecting a package of self-care items tomorrow, so I won’t even need a man to satisfy me.
“Why only one hour, Belly?” Arianna asks.
“It was an incredibly long day, and I have to go in early tomorrow to finish up what I didn’t get done today.”
“Aren’t you usually off on Saturdays?” Kate asks.
“Not all the time. It really depends on what’s happening in town. I can usually plan accordingly for any big tourist events or celebrations. No one could work tomorrow, though, so it’s just me.”
The three women share a look, and I sigh. “What is it?”
It takes a moment before Arianna speaks up. “We don’t like you being alone in the bakery.”
“Why?” I ask, then close my eyes in frustration. “Fucking Luca. No. Wait. Fucking Sebastian.”
“Yeah, you should,” Kate says with an exaggerated cough.
“What?” I ask, my brow furrowed in confusion.
“Uh, nothing. And it wasn’t Sebastian who told us. It was Luca. Well, he told Hannah, and she told us,” Kate says hastily. “But I guess Sebastian told Luca? How did he even know anyway?”
“He walked into the bakery,” Hannah pipes up when I don’t answer. Her eyes dart to mine before continuing. “Luca said when he ran into him right after, Seb was vibrating with anger.”
“Did he hit your ex?” Arianna asks with excitement.
“No. He just glared at Rick.”
Kate’s mouth screws up in distaste. “I can’t believe you went out with a guy named Rick. That would have been an immediate deal breaker for me.”
“Evidently I’m not so snobbish,” I respond defensively.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t meant to come out as a dig on you. What kind of a name is Rick anyway? Is it short for anything?”
“It’s short for Richard,” I answer, before my gaze swings behind Kate. “Isn’t that Stone?”
The four of us turn to look at the doors to the restaurant, as we watch Stone, Dominic, Luca … and Sebastian walk in. I’m suddenly filled with intense anger. “Is this a set up? Did you guys do this on purpose?”
“No!” Hannah hisses. “They were supposed to go play pool at a bar. I swear!”
Luca notices us, and immediately walks over, sporting a massive grin. “We’re not here to interrupt girl time. We changed our minds about what we want to do tonight, and I don’t think Hannah ever told me where you were meeting.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” I mutter.
