“Go, go, we all know what you are like when you are hangry,” Benton calls out.
I wave him off. “I have no idea what you mean by that.” I pull my purse out while they laugh behind me.
“Do I need to go into story time, Miss Merrick?” he replies.
“Pft. Whatever.”
He winks at me, his chocolate eyes glistening with mischief.
“Oh, no you do not. I have some stories about one, Miss LaTisha.” His eyes narrow at me, but they only hold humor.
“Fine. But only because I do not want her name to be tainted.”
I scoff, and fold my arms across my chest.
“Oh, dude, there will be no tainting. She was far too good for you. She has morals.” The room whoops and laughs, and he flips me off with a bright smile on his face.
“Fuck off and go eat.”
I wave goodbye, then go and meet my aunt, who is now chatting with a couple I do not know.
“The Science Center is amazing for kids, plus the Desert Botanical Garden.”
They thank her and lead the three children out of the hotel.
“Ready?” I approach her.
“Yes, my girl. Let’s go and catch up.” She links our arms and we walk out of the hotel.
We chatter about random things until we reach the diner that we love. This was the one place we would come if I was upset, if something happened at school, or with Valarie. Or when I was on my period and seeing Logan and Val together got to be too much.
“My favorite ladies. Grab a booth and I will be right there,” Jackie calls out.
We slide into a booth by the window; something we have in common is that we love to people watch and make up their life stories.
“What are you thinking of getting?” Aunt Cass asks.
I tap my finger on my chin, thinking. “Maybe the club sandwich and a cola. You?”
“I am thinking the chicken Ceasar salad with extra cheese.”
“Oh, you rebel, you.”
“So, my girl. Fill me in on what has been happening.” My cheeks instantly heat up from her question, even though it was an innocent one.
Flashes of what Logan did to me, and how he made me feel fill my head.
Before I can answer, Jackie comes over to give us our water and takes our order. We nod our thanks and I sip from my ice-cold drink. The ice cubes clang against the side of the glass and the sound seems amplified as I get lost in my thoughts about my time with Logan.
“Stevie, are you okay? You look a little flushed. Are you coming down with something?”
I blink and take a big gulp. “No, I am okay. Just tired, been working some extra shifts,” I explain, which is not a lie.
I have taken some extra shifts, covering for one of the women at work whose little one fell ill.
“Are you sure it is just that?” I nod.
“Yeah. How is living with Cale?” I ask. “It is a huge adjustment.”