Page 66 of A Pizza My Heart

“Because I can be. Now leave so I can get someactualwork done, please. I’ll see you later.”

“Birdie—”

“Don’t ‘Birdie’ me, Foster.” Her tone is steady, strong. I know she means business. “I’m serious. I don’t want your money.”

“Fine.” She drops my hands, and I wish I’d fought harder just so she’d keep touching me. “I’ll find some other way to repay you.”

“Sexual favors go alongway,” Blythe squeaks from behind us.

My mouth drops open at the brazen old bat, and Wren’s lips twitch as she leads me toward the door, Mike following at my feet.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” I admit.

“Oh, I was. She’s quiet but fiery. I like her.”

I nod. “I think I do too. I’ll see you in a bit?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Why don’t you take the night off? I’m sure I can handle it myself.”

“It’s your first night. No way.”

“I worked at Slice for years. I can handle it. Waiting tables is like riding a bike.”

“My dad wouldnevergo for it.”

“Please.” I grin, poking at my cheeks. “Have you seen how cute I am?”

“Are you?” She squints. “I can’t tell.”

“Can’t tell my ass.”

“Speaking of your ass…” She holds the door open for me. “Scram, Squid.”

“One, we arenotdoing that nickname. Two, how exactly is that speaking of my ass?”

“As in,your ass needs to scram.” She points to herself. “Me—business owner. You—distraction. Me stay, you leave. Got it?”

“So you’re saying I’m distracting because I’m so sexy?”

For a brief second, she looks like she’s going to say yes, her eyes traveling up and down my body approvingly.

Then, like it never happened, she rolls her eyes and shoves me out the door.

“It’s because you’re so annoying.”

“That wasn’t a no!” I yell through the door.

She shakes her head, and I take the win where I can get it.

Slice Nine

Wren

“Out!”

I stop dead in my tracks, the door to Slice clanging closed behind me, the sound echoing off the walls of the shop.

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