Page 23 of Mafioso's Muse

Willow dropped her gaze to the floor the second the lie exited Lili’s mouth.

‘Well, have fun.’ Harrison waited for Willow to look up. When she did, he said, ‘See you both bright and early on Monday.’

Willow offered him a smile before he walked away, then saw Lili’s disapproving look.

‘What?’ Willow asked.

‘You have no game face.’

‘He knows me well enough to know when I’m lying.’

‘It wasn’t a lie,’ Lili laughed. ‘We will go to the markets at some point, and we usually end up at a movie after a night out.’

‘You conveniently omitted the night out part.’

Lili linked her arm through Willow’s and walked her towards the lift. ‘It’s none of his business. He lost the right to know your whereabouts the moment he told you that you were too heavy for lifts.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Let’s go misbehave.’

The bar was nestled between two cafes and surrounded by an interesting mix of architecture. There were fairy light trees in the beer garden and a clear view of the river. Inside, bright décor surrounded a generous dance floor. Willow and Lili paused inside the entrance to admire the scene before heading to the bar to order drinks. With a champagne in hand, they found a free table and stole some stools from a group nearby. It took the entire glass of bubbles before Willow felt her exhaustion begin to melt away.

‘Another?’ she asked, standing.

Lili’s eyebrows lifted. ‘So it’s like that? Okay.’

Willow returned to the bar and ordered two more drinks. On her way back to the table, a man in his late twenties, with wavy hair and a red shirt, stepped away from his group of friends to block her path.

‘Let me give you a hand carrying those.’ He moved to take the drinks from her.

‘No, I’m good, thanks.’ She raised the flutes. ‘Two hands, two drinks.’

A smile stretched across his face. ‘What’s your name?’

His beer breath had her sidestepping him. ‘My friend’s waiting, sorry.’

When she arrived back at the table and handed Lili her drink, Lili nodded in the direction of the group of guys. ‘Red Shirt has been watching you since we arrived.’

‘Well, he picked the wrong day to make a move. I really can’t be bothered tonight.’

Lili observed her for a moment. ‘We don’t have to stay.’

‘I want to stay.’ She took a sip from her glass. ‘I just don’t want to be bothered by drunk guys.’

‘Fair. I’ll do my best to keep them away from you.’ Lili pulled her chair closer. ‘Did I tell you about the bad date I had last week?’

‘Only a summary. You know I’m all about the detail.’

Lili went on to tell the full story of the date her father had set her up with, insisting he was just what she needed despite having never met the man in person.

‘I ended up faking a cat emergency and leaving before dessert,’ she finished.

‘I’ve often wondered if I should get a cat for that very reason.’

‘You have Frank.’

Willow made a thoughtful face. ‘I’m not sure an axolotl emergency produces the same level of panic. It usually leads to more questions, people wanting to know why I have such a strange pet.’

Laughing, Lili rose to her feet. ‘I’m going to the bathroom.’

‘Okay.’ Willow dragged the flutes closer to her and watched Lili disappear into the crowd.