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Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "I haven’t been. I told you guys that I would be busy—"
"That was almost a week ago,” he snapped, interrupting her. “You told us to come last time, and then you barely speak to us? Renly said— “
Mykie clenched her fists. "I've told you before that Renly doesn't know what he's talking about. Why do you always think what Renly says is the truth of the matter?”
"Then you still want to talk to us? To him?" he pressed.
"I'm allowed to be busy, Corbus. I have a job and I have a lot of responsibilities to my family. You know that."
"I thought you'd make time to hang out with us, though," he argued. "That's why we came to Pearl's last time. I wanted to hang out with you, and then Renly disappeared before coming back with a better attitude and saying you'd be coming over to the table.Then, Blaine tells us you’re busy and can’t get out of working? Why does everyone else have access to you except me?”
Mykie leaned forward and set a hand on one of Corbus’ crossed arms. “I’m sorry I haven’t been as available as I was before. I got a promotion, dangerous things have been happening here lately, so I haven’t had my mind in the right place. On you.”
She moved her hand down his arm until she reached his hand, holding it tightly. "I promised before everything happened between Renly and me that I would go dress shopping with him for his sister and a replacement dress for the night we met. I'll come by your house after that, if you want to spend time with me outside of my workplace?"
"Renly said—"
She drew her hand back as if he slapped her.
"Corbus," she barked. "I don't give a rats-ass what he might have said. I want to know whatyousay and whatyouthink. Do you want me to come around, or is it Renly that wants me to?“
"We both do! I mean, I do!" he spat out. "I want to spend more time with you, especially after we...you know..."
"Almost kissed?" she supplied. It felt like that night was eons ago now, and she realized that it was the closest she was to initiating a kiss with one of the guys before Ryker came along.
He nodded, adjusting his glasses.
"You know," she leaned forward on the counter. "If you weren't so drunk that night, I might have kissed you."
His eyes widened. "What...but..."
"It's true,” she said, leaning further on the counter in front of her. “You were so tired and all I wanted was to see that sweet, shy smile of yours that you try to hide.”
She watched as almost subconsciously, he smiled just like she described.
"I'd kiss you now, but you deserve something better,” she murmured in a soft voice, afraid to break the moment, but also loud enough so he could hear her over the music playing over the speakers. “Maybe after I go with Renly, you and I could have another sleepover, and we won't let the boys get in the way of it this time."
Corbus closed his eyes, and she was almost sure that he was imagining the night in his head. She was imagining it, too. They'd be curled up in his blue comforter again, but instead of squeezing together on the small couch, they'd make the choice to be that close in his bed. She'd wait for the perfect moment of them laying together, sharing their secrets and desires with one another, and lean over to kiss him just as his eyes were starting to flutter closed.
Her daydream was broken as Corbus was jostled by two guys next to him play-hitting each other in the shoulder. At the same time, Ryker came up beside Corbus and seemed to break the glass dome around their moment. Mykie dropped her hand and took a step back.
Ryker looked between the two of them, his gaze lingering on Corbus a moment longer, as if he were studying him.
"I didn’t want to interrupt, but I've got some more orders for you," he finally said, setting the tray down beside Corbus. "You also seem to have someone waiting to talk to you, too."
"He can wai—"
"They’re a ‘she’, actually," he said, gesturing behind her.
She turned around and her heart stopped when she realized Jezebeth was standing at the other end of the bar, watching her from a distance. It only took the corner of Jezebeth's mouth lifting into a half-smile and before Mykie knew it, the girls met in the middle for a hug.
"Mykie..."
"It's all right. I'm not mad at you for staying away," Mykie whispered, holding the girl tight against her, afraid that letting her go would make the other girl disappear.
"If I had known about your father…" Mykie trailed off and shook her head. "I would have brought Dexter or not told Chance about Jered. Anything that could have let you avoid seeing that."
She heard Jezebeth sniffle in her ear. "You couldn't have done anything about it, and I know that. It doesn’t make it any easier, though, which is why I've stayed away. I saw you at the funeral, and while I didn’t want to talk to you at that moment…thank you for coming. For caring, too. Seeing you and Pearl’s was too hard, even after the funeral."
