“You know him?”
It was my turn to be evasive. “Can we get Waylay and go for those burgers?”
SIXTEEN
THE INFAMOUS STEF
Naomi
On the way home, I programmed Nina’s dads’ numbers into my shiny, new phone. They were not the first numbers in there. Knox had already programmed contacts for Liza, Honky
Tonk, Sherry, Waylay’s school, and Café Rev.
There was even one for himself.
I didn’t know what that said or meant. And frankly, I was too damn tired to worry about it. Especially when I had a bigger problem.
That bigger problem was sitting on the front steps of the cottage with a glass of wine.
“Stay in the truck,” Knox growled.
But I was already halfway out. “It’s fine. I know him.”
Waylay, crammed in the backseat with all our purchases, rolled down her window and stuck her head out. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Stef,” I said.
He put down the wine and opened his arms.
I ran into them. Stefan Liao was the world’s perfect man. He was smart, funny, thoughtful, outrageously generous, and so pretty it hurt to look directly at him. The only son of a real estate-developing father and an app-developing mother, he was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and exquisite taste in everything.
And somehow I’d gotten lucky enough to land him as a best friend.
He swept me up in his arms and twirled me around.
“I’m still incredibly pissed at you,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you for loving me even when you’re pissed,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and breathing in his expensive cologne.
Just seeing him, hugging him, made me feel more grounded.
“You gonna introduce me to Blondie and the Beast?” Stef asked.
“Not done hugging yet,” I insisted.
“Hurry it up. Beast looks like he wants to shoot me.”
“He’s more of a Viking than a beast.”
Stef tilted my head back with his hands and planted a kiss on my forehead. “It’s all gonna be fine. I promise.”
Tears stung my eyes. I believed him. And the relief I felt from that was enough to release Niagara Falls of tears.
“Where do you want your shit?” Knox growled.
That was enough to dry up Niagara Falls. I spun around and found him standing only a foot away. “Seriously?”
“Got things to do, Daze. Don’t have all night to stand around watching you make out with Henry Golding.”