Page 71 of The Last Call Home
Cass: Fine, we won’t play, but it would’ve been fun.Any plans for tonight?
Lilah: I can’t do anything with you.I’m visiting Simone—for real this time.
Mal: It’s a little strange that she didn’t let you know she moved back to town.You two were close.
Cass: The doctor is your best friend?
Lilah: Nysa, Simone, and I were close.You kind of have to be when you grow up in a town this small.It’s either ride-or-die or you avoid your enemies—there’s no middle ground.
Mal: You never had enemies.
Lilah: I never entertained people who were cruel to them.Nys was the new girl with the tragic past, living with her grandparents.And Simone?She was a teen mom’s kid—like her mother’s sins were stitched into her clothes.Hence she barely had friends.
Cass: Really, Simone was ...I don’t see it.She’s the most outgoing person.
Lilah: You know Simone?
Mal: Hate to interrupt this chat, but unlike you two, I have to work.
Cass: I worked all night, sheriff.
Lilah: I started working at four in the morning.You were the one slacking while we were being productive.
Mal: That’s not what I meant :unamused: emoji
Cass: We should start syncing our schedules.I have people coming to work for me so I can be more alert in the mornings.
Lilah: Why?Is there something wrong?
Cass: No, it’s procedure.
Lilah: If something was wrong, you’d tell me, right?
Mal: Probably not.He’d ship you to another planet first, then bring you back when we had finished with the assholes.
Cass: What he said.
Lilah: I’m not going anywhere, but send Mom—if things get ...y’know.
Mal: It’s fine.Don’t scare her, Cassian.
Cass: You’re the one who said I’d ship her.Not me.
Lilah: Don’t start arguing.Mal, go rescue kittens from trees.
Mal: I do more than that.
Cass: He’s the hero in town, remember.
Mal: I’ll talk to you later.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Cass: Is it true that your mom is trying to set you up with Mrs.Rogers’ grandson?
Lilah: No, her son—and be her grandson’s new mom.
Mal: Fuck no.
