Page 119 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Baby, I know you better than anyone, and you are,” her mother said, selling her down the river.

“I’m going to ask you some questions now, and I need them answered,” Nina said.

“You being such an expert on love after all,” Zoe muttered.

“I may not be in love, but I have experienced love before and seen it in many forms with those around me,” Nina said smugly.

She was a very hard woman to insult.

“Do you think about my boss constantly?”

Zoe nodded.

“Does he make butterflies flutter in your tummy?”

“Ooh, that’s an important one,” her mother said. “Leyton always made me do that.”

“Aww.” Nina looked ready to cry.

“Yes,” Zoe whispered.

“Do you respect and admire him?” Cill asked.

“Yeah, yeah, all that.” Nina waved a hand about. “Is he good in bed?”

“Nina!” Zoe gasped. No one else looked shocked by the question.

“Well, it’s an important question, baby,” her mother said.

Zoe drank down several mouthfuls of the strong drink in her hand. She then nodded and hoped that would be enough of an answer.

“Nope, we need details,” Cill said.

“I’m not talking about that.”

“We’re just looking out for you, girl,” Nina said. “I mean if his equipment?—”

“Stop!”

“All we’re saying, Zoe, is that if everything on him works well and he makes you melt when he touches you, then maybe you need to think about keeping him,” Mrs. C said before draining the rest of her glass. She then held it up for Nina to refill.

“Salsa and corn chips are the perfect accompaniment for margaritas,” Birdie said. “I think the delivery just arrived. I’ll be right back.”

“Who is delivering salsa and corn chips at this hour and, for that matter, in Lyntacky?” Zoe asked.

“Bradford is here!” Birdie cried. The tall, lanky technician walked in behind her carrying a huge tray of nachos.

“Hey, ladies,” he said.

“You want to have a margarita, Bradford?” Zoe’s mom asked.

“Sure.” He climbed up beside Cill on the other side of the sink and took the glass he was handed. “What are we talking about?”

“How come you are delivering us that?” Zoe pointed to the tray Nina and Mrs. C were eating from.

“It’s my side hustle,” he said with a small smile. Bradford never did anything big, even considering his size. He wore long shorts and a T-shirt that said, “If you don’t square dance, we can’t be friends.”

“Okay,” Zoe said when nothing else came to mind. “Kind of like the Lyntacky Uber Eats.”

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