Payden gives her a look. “I’m not sure I can pass that off as self defense.”
Luna pouts. “Well, you’re no fun.”
“How was your day?” I ask Payden.
She sighs, placing her briefcase down near the counter so she can browse hands free. “Harder than it had to be. Let’s just say I’m hangry, and I need sustenance soon.”
“We can go to the Burger Shack after,” Manny sings.
“Wait, I thought you hated that place?” Lace asks. We all know Manny has very high standards. He’s brought the Soup Kitchen that Priest and Bella run to new heights, and helped at Muso, Hustler and Audrina’s cafe in the French Quarter, but he won’t cook fries and burgers at the club’s cafe on Bourbon Street.
“I don’t hate it,” he says, with a little too much spirit. “I just told Cash one time he better not even think of sending me there because I have my kitchen exactly how I want it.”
“Uh, huh,” Lace teases. “And you’re sure it’s not because they make burgers and hot dogs?”
Manny screws up his nose, then says, “I make burgers, smartass.”
“Yes, but you call themsliders,” Luna puts in, extending the words with a wave of her hands.
“That’s because they are tiny, delicious, bite-sized morsels of goodness,” Manny tells us. “And honestly, theyattemptedtomake Gumbo one time. I might add theircookrefused to take any tips off me, the reigning champion in the Great Louisiana Gumbo Cook Off, and it was a disaster. But what would I know about cuisine? It was only Harlem and the club who sent me to cooking school to refine my already god given talent.”
I roll my lips as he marches off over to the patent pant area. That might calm him down a little.
“Glad you asked,” Payden mutters to Lace.
“It’s a touchy subject,” Lace whispers behind her hand at us. “He’ll be fine in a second.”
Luna shakes her head. “If someone takes that title from him, we’re all done for.”
“I can still hear you,” Manny sings. “Oh, my god, look at these pants!”
He’s so predictable.
I keep trawling the racks, but all I can think of is:What would Sawyer like?
I know he said I’d look good in a brown paper bag, but that’s not happening. His favorite color is blue, so I naturally navigate my way over to a glittery, metallic halter-neck dress. It’s way shorter than I’ve ever had the guts to wear, but it’s really pretty. I check my size and pull the dress out, examining it. It’s a lot of money, but I never treat myself, and I’ve been saving for over a year. The one thing about my job is the financial security, and it’s what I needed to get back on my feet.
“Now that’s a showstopper,” Payden whispers. “It wouldn’t be for anyone in particular, would it?”
I poke my tongue childishly. “No. It wouldn’t.”
She bumps me with her hip, raising her brows. The others are busy fussing over the pants; Manny is now trying to find a top to match with. “So?”
“We’re all good.”
“Well, I’m glad. You make a cute couple.”
“Wait, we’re not… Well, I don’t know what we are,” I whisper. “But we’re more than friends. Just don’t say anything to anyone. Sawyer is really weird about his private life, and you know, the brothers.” It isn’t a lie, but even so, I know Payden is trustworthy.
“My lips are sealed.”
“Not even to Luna,” I warn. “She may be your bestie, but news travels fast.”
“I won’t say anything,” she reiterates. “Plus, Sawyer already got one beating, I’m not sure how he’d fare with the brothers grim.”
“Ugh, they’re so annoying. You’d think they’d be doing cartwheels if we were to get together. He’s a good guy.”
“I don’t think it’s him, per se,” Payden says. “I think it’s anyone who comes near you after all that shit with your ex.”