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I’m starting to like having Nila around.
And I don’t want to trade her out for someone else.
“Can we take a picture together?” I blurt out before I can think about it, and I don’t miss the looks on Kade’s and Blaze’s faces.
Nila’s eyes flash with something I can’t discern. “Sure. We can’t post it on your account, though—and I can’t post it on mine until after the job is over.”
“I wasn’t planning on posting it,” I say carefully. “I just want to have a picture of us.”
Gosh, I sound like a sappy idiot right now.
“Here.” Addy breaks into the conversation, offering to take my phone. “I’ll take it for you.”
I’m relieved for the interruption and hand over my phone, taking a breath and holding it as I lean in and drape my arm around Nila’s chair.
“Smile.” Addy beams, giving us both a goofy look as she snaps a few photos.
I look down at Nila, who’s smiling at the camera, and I can’t help but admire her up close. Beneath the light dusting of makeup on her face, I can make out the little freckles splattered across her creamy skin like flecks of paint.
“Got it,” Addy says, her voice dropping.
I clear my throat and lean away, the jasmine scent of Nila’s perfume lingering in my nostrils. Addy’s eyes follow me, narrowing as she hands back my phone. I shrug at her, having no clue what her expression is about.
However, just a few moments later, my phone buzzes. I glance down at the text, surprised to see who it’s from.
Addy: You like her.
My face grows hot. I grab my phone up from off the table, glancing over to Nila. Thankfully, her eyes are on the musician—a tall, blonde woman singing a Fleetwood Mac cover. I open the text and before I can reply, I’m hit with another message.
Addy: I can see it in the way you look at her. You should tell her.
I roll my eyes, shaking my head at the message. After my terrible breakup with Lacey, there’s no way I’m putting myself on the line again. Besides, Nila is fresh out of a relationship, and she made it clear she doesn’t want to be tied down.
Whatever it is that I’m feeling will fade. She’s leaving soon anyway.
My stomach flips at the thought. But before I can dwell on it, my phone begins to ring—which is a welcome distraction.
I glance down to see my dad’s profile picture lighting up the screen. I push back from the table and answer it, walking away to escape the noise.
“Hey, Dad.” I slip around the corner of the patio, leaning against the brick building and taking in the sights of the people walking down the row of bars and lounges.
“Hey, I was just wondering how things were going?” His voice is as cheerful as ever, but there’s something amiss in his tone—I just can’t put my finger on it.
“Um, things are good. We’re out at the Metro right now.”
“Yeah? Did you take Nila with you?”
“She’s here, yeah. I don’t know how much longer she’ll be in town, though. I guess she did her job so well that they don’t think they need her anymore. The fight stuff blew over.”
“Oh ... well ... you don’t sound too thrilled about it.”
“No, it’s not that,” I say hesitantly, trying to think through how I’m feeling. “They’re apparently going to be hiring a replacement to work as my social media manager full-time, but I don’t think they’ll be following me around the way she does.”
Dad laughs. “That’ll be good then.”
“Yeah...” My voice trails off. “But I don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
