Page 70 of Demitri

“You’re damn right she is,” he quietly replies. “Which one is yours?”

“Mia. Mia is mine.”

“That’s a fine choice, son.” He nods. “She needs someone like you to help her through it. You won’t leave when it isn’t easy, and she needs that.”

“I know.”

“So,” Sandy says, wiping her eyes. “Who’s ready for waffles?”

The girls all blink away their own tears and raise their hands. The guys in the corner, who have been watching all of this, also yell their answers, and James opens the door, eyeballing us until he notices Grace in the group. Without a word, he walks to her, takes her arm, and guides her to one of the tables by the guys. The other girls follow her, with Mia squeezing my hand as she walks by.

“Your girl is Mia?” Sandy asks, stopping to stand by me.

“For as long as she’ll have me,” I confirm.

“Treat her well. I’d hate to have to cut off your supply.”

“If that’s not a horrible idea, I don’t know what is.”

We laugh, and Sandy takes my arm again, guiding me to the group where we’ll all pretend that last night didn’t happen.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

MIA

“I’m stuffed,”I whine, pushing my plate away and rubbing my now hurting stomach. “Who let me eat so much?”

A napkin comes flying at my face, Nola grinning. “We don’t let you do anything. You did that all on your own.”

Both of us turn to look at Sofie, who is still stuffing her face. “I think Sofie’s hollow leg has been activated. It’s the only place for the food to go.”

“Shut up,” she mumbles around a mouthful of food. “It’s too good. I can’t stop.”

“Well, if you’d come see me more often, you wouldn’t be needing your fix so bad,” Sandy playfully snips as she refills coffee cups.

Grace, Nola, and Sofie all tense at the words, casting their eyes downward.

“Oh, girls, I’m sorry. I know this place has bad memories for you. I’ve just missed you all so much. I understand why you don’t stop in, but know when you do, I’ll take care of you.”

“Thanks, Sandy. We miss you, too.” I smile at her.

“Ha! You just miss my waffles.”

We share a laugh, and I look around at this motley crew that have somehow become like family to me in the last few months.It’s like Demitri and I did some weird meshing of people who happen to all get along. As we finish up, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

When I step out of the bathroom, Grace’s boss, James, stops me before I can exit the hallway.

“Hey, James. What’s going on?”

“How well do you know, uh, John?”

The look I give him must make him realize how idiotic he sounds, and he sighs, restating his question.

“You know who Demitri is?”

“I do.”

“Do you trust him?”

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