Page 113 of Buy Back My Love

“That’s between you and him. I ain’t negotiating your rent.”

“Good, because I wasn’t asking you to.”

I nodded. “That’s what I figured.”

She looked down at the pie for a second before looking back at me.

“Thank you.”

“Ain’t nothing.”

“It is to me.”

I shrugged. “You said you were trying to get back working. I knew Malcom had that space. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

She had only mentioned it once, but I remembered how frustrated she sounded talking about owners changing their minds as soon as they saw her record. Calling Malcom hadn’t cost me anything, and if the space worked for her, even better.

“For real, Van. I appreciate you.”

“I got you.”

Lee got quiet after that and looked down at her hands. When she looked back up at me, she had that look like she was trying to decide whether to say something.

“Van…”

“What’s up?”

She hesitated long enough for me to know there was something there, but then she shook her head. “Never mind.”

I looked at her for a second. “You good?”

“Yeah. I’m good.”

I didn’t believe that, but I wasn’t finna stand there dragging something out of her she clearly wasn’t ready to say. If she wanted me to know, she’d tell me.

I checked the time on my phone. “Aight, I gotta roll before I miss kickoff.”

That got her back to picking at me. “Go watch Auburn lose.”

“Keep talking.”

I grabbed my keys and headed for the door while she called after me.

“And tell your mama that pie was good.”

I stopped with my hand on the knob and looked back at her. “Good?”

Lee rolled her eyes because she already knew what I was doing. “Really good.”

“Better than sweet potato?”

“Boy, get out my house.”

I laughed. “See you later, Lee.”

“Bye, Van.”

I headed out to my truck, and before I pulled off, I sent her the shop information.