Page 4 of Tangled Emotions
Tears filled my eyes.
Damn these hormones.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.Pleasedon’t tell mom.” Her eyes were wide with fear. “She will kick my ass for upsetting you, and that’s not what I was doing. I swear I was trying to help.”
“Evie, I’m not mad.” I opened the door and pulled her into the bathroom for a hug. “This was really sweet. Thank you.”
“Whew.”
I laughed with my baby sister and felt relief. She might be an unhinged gremlin, but she’s our unhinged gremlin. “How do I look?”
“Really pretty.” She smiled. “Where’re you going?”
“I’m meeting Greg at the pub for lunch.”
“I don’t like him.” She scowled.
“He knows.” I gave her braid a tug. “Trust me.”
She harrumphed and left the bathroom. “You deserve better. Just sayin’.”
Honestly, I’m pretty sure everyone in Port Stella knew Evie didn’t hide her feelings.
I gave myself one last look in the mirror and then grabbed my purse and walked over to the Bearded Barrels Pub.
Paul manned the bar and Veronica waited tables. At the end of the bar sat Lucy, Charlie, and Baxter. They were dogs, and you’d think they were the owners.
Lucy howled at me as I made my way to an empty table and I motioned with my head for her to come join me.
“You’re not helping, Edie.” Paul shook his head.
“She’s the best worker here.” I tossed back and noticed Lori Barron and her stooges sitting at a table near the bathrooms.
Lori had been a pain in my ass through high school, calling me everything but a white girl because she had a crush on Greg.
Greg walked in a moment later, looking like he just sucked on a lemon. He made his way over to me and sat across, where he could see Lori.
Odd. But okay.
Lucy paused when she saw him and went back to the bar.
No kiss? No hug?
“How’s your day?” I smiled at him, expecting him to smile back.
“It’s been a day.” He grumped. “Are you ready to order?”
“Did I do something to piss you off?” I sat back in my chair and balled my hands up on my lap.
“No.” He sighed. “Look we need to talk. And I know we need to talk, but can we order food first?”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
Veronica came over with two waters. “Know what you want?”
He smiled at her as he spoke. “Sure thing, sweetness, I’ll have a burger and fries.”
What the hell?