Page 65 of The Sidekick

He inspects his menu without replying.

“It is!” Her harpy shriek makes my eyes water because she’s still so close to my ear.

“You are such a sweetheart! I never knew!” Andi lets me go and wraps her arms around Shade’s neck, crying into his shoulder now. He silently holds out his hand to me, palm up.

I roll my eyes as I dig out the twenty and slap it into his palm. I was sure I wouldn’t have to pay him for our bet. He promptly holds it out to Alec, who grins in delight.

“I told you she had great aim,” he gloats as he snatches the money and slides it into his wallet. I guess that bet was fresh? Or the only one Shade made with him, who knows.

“What was your bet?” Blaze eyes me suspiciously.

“I told him that Andi wasn’t going to be hysterical and cause a scene,” I glare at Shade’s profile. “You cheated with the spa thing. Don’t think you’re getting away with it.”

“May I take your order, miss?” A waiter interrupts Shade’s slow strangulation. The guy’s cheeks are red as his eyes slide from side to side, probably wishing he were anywhere else. Maybe Andi has a reputation for dramatics here, and the staff is fully aware.

Andi straightens abruptly and returns to her seat like she’s walking a runway.

“We need another minute,” Brody grins at the guy’s discomfort.

He hurries away, and I doubt we’ll see him again as I watch him run. Do they draw straws to see who will wait on this table?

“Where were you?” Andi asks quietly. I would love to think it’s because she’s just realized that she’s embarrassed everyone sitting here, but it’s probably because she’s sad. I shift in discomfort as I watch her wipe her eyes with her napkin.

“Are you moving back here?” Damien asks.

“You going to get your old job back?” Blaze leans back to watch me with a judgy expression. “Your boss was pretty invested in us finding you at first.”

Why did he have to mention him? I bet Satan was invested for all of five minutes.

“Can you all give her a moment?” Ira looks around the table, and everyone falls silent.

“I was a couple hundred miles away -”

“In Treble, three states away,” Shade inserts because he knows I have no idea what the town’s name is. Why do I talk to him again?

“I’m not sure if I’m moving back -”

“I’ve found some places for you to look at,” he interrupts.

“I’m not going back to my old job,” I finish with a glare at Shade’s uninterested profile, silently daring him to say anything else. He doesn’t disappoint.

“There’s a porn shop near here you can apply to.”

“It’s an adult store, not a porn shop. How many times do I have to tell you?” I snap in irritation.

“They don’t pay under the counter, so it’s more legit than where you were before.”

“I’m going to murder you.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“I totally am. Sleep with one eye open.” I lean closer to try and be more menacing. He isn’t falling for it.

“I’ll pencil in time on my schedule to be scared. How does three thirty sound to you?”

“No. I’m going to wait you out. Really build the suspense. You’ll never see me coming.”

“Whatever makes you happy.”

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