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“You’re asking to get hit with a pillow again,” she says, grinning.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

Chapter 19

Robin

“I don’t know what’s harder to imagine,” Kora says, a teasing lilt to her voice. “That you’re attending a gala or that Hayden’s attending a gala. Or wait, that you and Hayden are attending a gala together. As a couple.”

“Not as a couple,” I hiss at her, looking around quickly to make sure nobody heard us. Kora tends to talk loudly enough that people five miles away can hear her.

We’re strolling down the sunny sidewalk, the late afternoon sun blazing down on us unforgivingly, but I needed some time to talk to Kora before we reach Mike’s, because I don’t want the entire bar to hear about the gala. Now, with Kora next to me basically hollering down the sidewalk, I know it was a good choice.

“We’re just … friends,” I sputter.

“A friend who keeps buying you dinner and saves your cat and repairs your car?”

“Isn’t that what a good friend would do? Wouldn’t you do that for me?”

“There is no way this man only wants to be your friend.”

“He’s just being nice, and we’re forced to work together,” I say, although I know I’m lying to myself. I’m not as naive as I pretend to be. After all the flirty things he said to me these past few nights and our almost kiss, I have no doubt that he’s interested. But it’s not something I have time for right now, nor do I think it’s a good idea. I love Kora, but she can be pushy, and I don’t need anyone to push me toward Hayden. He’s leaving after the funeral, so there’s no point in trying anything anyway.

“He could work you nicely in the bedroom too,” Kora says, her eyes gleaming with mischief, and I choose to ignore her.

We reach the bar, and she opens the door for me to go in first. I’m hit with a rush of relief as the cool air from the air conditioner blows at me. I always get grouchy when I’m hot, and my mood instantly changes once I feel like I’m not being sacrificed to the sun.

“There are a lot of people in here,” Kora grumbles.

She’s right. Mike’s is always popular, but today it’s more packed than usual. I glance around, trying to find an open table, ideally somewhere in the corner, but the only seats available are at the bar. I sigh.

“Bar it is,” I say miserably. “Trivia doesn’t start for another two hours. Why are there so many people here?”

“Probably because it’s hotter than Satan’s bedroom out there so everyone’s trying to enjoy the air-conditioning in here.”

“Hotter than Satan’s bedroom?” I say, pulling out one of the empty barstools.

“Yes, hell is supposedly hot as fuck, but you know what’s even hotter than that? His bedroom in hell.” She settles onto the barstool next to me. “I just know he’d do unspeakable things to my body in that bedroom.”

“Remind me to not take you to church,” I say, using a napkin to wipe away the crumbs at the bar.

“Right, because you go to church and you are so innocent,” she says mockingly.

Mike appears in front of us with a wet rag, giving us a nod. “Sorry. I haven’t had a chance to clean this after the last customers left,” he says.

“Unacceptable,” I tease him.

“I’ll give you tap water on the house. Menus?”

“How generous.” Kora dramatically fans herself next to me. “You’re getting me all hot and bothered.”

“Behave.” Mike closes his eyes briefly and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Yes to the menus,” I chime in, and he pulls out a couple from under the bar.

“Wave me over when you’re ready,” he says, already walking to the next customers.

“Stop flirting with Mike,” I chastise Kora, handing her one of the menus.