Page 154 of Branded
Or lonely.
Sitting there and getting cold.
So, I got my wiggle on even as I downed my delicious pancakes and drank my refill of hot cocoa and another glass of water. I stayed on my cushion as I polished off my crispy hash browns with plenty of salt.
And stupidly, I stayed on my cushion in that booth, my plates empty, my cups empty (minus the water glass, which Janet had a spidey sense to refill), and I read until a chapter break.
Because I had to know what happened to my girl.
Because it was hot with an H. O. Double T.
I wasn’t sure that was really a thing, but the scene had me so enthralled I couldn’t even make fun of my own ridiculousness.
But then I finished the chapter, and I was dropped back into my reality.
Eighties explosion. Empty plates and glasses.
No mythical man racing in to save me, to pick me up in his arms, fly me away, and worship me on a mountain top—that worshipping including multiple orgasms and providing me with a whole new wardrobe.
Nope.
No magic. No flying.
Just Janet casually having placed the bill at the end of the table, leaving me to my fantasies.
Just me and those fantasies and a good book and two babies that didn’t belong to me happily wiggling in my belly. And a bladder that was full and getting wiggled on and required immediate attention.
So…bill. Bathroom. Shopping.
I slipped some cash from my wallet—enough to pay for my food and leave a generous tip—chugged down the last of the water, and packed up my Kindle.
Then I slid out of the booth.
A little too fast because my head went spinny.
But I paused and sat at the edge of the booth, ignoring my bladder, breathing slow and deep and then trying again, knowing I had the ticket the second time around because there were no spots at the edges of my vision.
Then I was on my feet.
Then I was steady, and the babies were safe.
And then, finally, I hightailed it to the bathroom.
Eleven
Raph
The guys had somehow missed that Beth was there, sitting a handful of booths away.
Or at least Cas and Theo had.
Smitty was still wearing his gossip face.
But I had managed to survive pancakes and conversation, and Smitty hadn’t brought up the gorgeous redhead, even though I’d had to tear my gaze away from her more than a handful of times.
Drinking lots of water.
Eating heartily.
