“No,” I lied. “Why would I do that? He’s got his son back. They’re living happily ever after now.”
She leaned against the station next to me, her slender fingers tucking a loose lock of hair back into her bun. “We both know you want to join them.”
“And leave the inn to you and the girls? I wouldn’t ditch you like that.”
“You can balance it out. Like I do with Donovan.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, be a mother to a kid I can’t even protect. What a great idea, Sasha. The best I ever heard.” I lifted the dough. “Since sliced bread.”
“I know you’re using sarcasm as a defense mechanism,” she pointed out carefully. “But when you say things like that, it hurts my feelings.”
The dough slapped the counter when I dropped it. “Sorry, Sash. I’m tired.”
“Because you’ve been prepping since the crack of dawn.”
“I just want to make sure this weekend is set. I was gone for too long. Christopher did well in my absence, but he let some things slip through the cracks. If I don’t do it—”
She grinned gently. “It’ll get done whether you’re doing it or not.”
A shuddering breath sent me toward a stool. I slumped onto it, huffing as I brushed my hands repeatedly on my apron. “I shouldn’t have given up my stupid necklace.”
“You mean the one your mother gave you?”
I frowned with confusion. “Is that who gave it to me?”
“Lottie, you never mentioned that. Is that why you’re upset right now?”
“I guess so.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile and grabbed a stool. She set it next to me and plopped on it, resting her hand on my knee. “That explains why you’ve been so sad.”
“Other than Adam? Yeah.” I reached for the space on my chest where the necklace would have been sitting. “It’s like something got ripped away from me.”
“Maybe if you spoke to Adam…”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don’t have anything to say to him.”
“I think he has plenty to say to you.”
“Sasha, what did you do?”
She blushed, the crimson hue blooming over her cheeks and the tips of her ears. It was cute when she was embarrassed like this as it didn’t happen very often. Seeing her act so normal made me relax my arms a bit.
“You spoke to Donovan,” I stated. “Of course, you did.”
“He’s my mate. Why wouldn’t I confide in him?”
I shrugged. “I guess I’m not used to you having another best friend.”
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
“Hardly.”
She smirked. “Lottie.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I’m mildly jealous. Because I might have had something with Adam and I completely blew it.”
She tapped the mark on my neck. “I don’t think that’s true.”