“I’m sorry. It’s just that they wouldn’t stop giving me shots, and I blurted it out—I hope Kathleen wasn’t embarrassed by it all. She was such a cute kid.”
I can’t help but let out a light chuckle, surprisingly pleased at Allison’s genuine, heartfelt apology for being manipulated by my sisters. I always thought she was too sweet to be friends with Riley. She was even sweet when I told her I didn’t reciprocate her crush when we were younger. She was very understanding.
“I can’t believe Uncle Peter hired her,” Riley comments, twirling her dark hair between her fingers. Up close, her purple lipstick is smudged.
“She’s a good waitress,” I retort, feeling the odd need to defend Kathleen.
“You’re biased,” Robin points out, her brown crinkled. “She’s too young for it.”
“I was sixteen when I started waitressing,” Allison says, smiling.
“Yeah, but you weren’t serving coffee at a strip club,” Riley says, pointing.
“You know, Eddie,” Robin says. “I think that girl needs someone to look after her. You might just be the man for the job. We knew she had a crush on you for years.”
“I knew,” Allison chimes in with her soft voice. “We saw her at the University open house last year. They wanted Allison to be a guest speaker.”
“And?” I ask, waving a hand to get them to continue whatever they’re implying.
“And she looked lonely,” Riley states. “I don’t think she really has anyone.”
“You two are the worst,” I tell both of my sisters, rolling my eyes good-naturedly when they both looked offended. They might be ridiculously annoying, but I do love them both. “You’re corrupting Allison. And you guys barely know Kathleen.”
“I knew her convict dad,” Robin says, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
There’s a knock at the door, and when I open the heavy wood, Kathleen Henderson is standing in her diner dress and white sneakers, wrapped in a warm-looking brown cardigan. Her blonde hair is tucked into a french braid.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know if this is appropriate,” she says quietly. “I just wanted to thank you for saving me in the parking lot. I found your address online.”
“Saving her?” Riley questions.
“Parking lot?” Allison asks in disbelief.
“Thank you?” Robin intones, arching a curious eyebrow.
I shake my head. “You don’t have to thank me for anything. You’re good.”
You’re gorgeous. You’re so damn beautiful. You’re all that I really want now, is what I want to say.
“I do, though,” Kathleen tells me, shrugging. “I think you’re the reason I made it home to my family last night. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you own the club now.”
“I’m glad you work there,” I answer, though it’s a light version of what I really want to say.It’s fate that we met again after all these years, and I want you.
“I…um, I made you some fudge brownies last night. They’re a little burnt,”
Kathleen stumbles over her words, and I take pity on her, wanting to smile.
“Thank you,” I tell her quickly, feeling warm all over as she hands over the brownie pan.
Her cheeks go pink.
“Well, that was it. I have to get to the diner for my shift now.”
I can hear the urging whispers at my back, and I give them the finger behind me.
“Do you mind if I drive you there?” I ask her. “That way, I know that you’re safe.”
Kathleen nods, looking happily surprised. “I would really like that, thank you.”