A warning
After her abrupt exit, I hadn’t heard much from Bo outside of a few random texts over the weekend. It was Monday now and I realized I needed to move things along if I were to keep on schedule. I decided that randomly stopping by the bar during her lunch shift would be a “sweet” but innocuous gesture. Armed with a scone for good measure, I had a misplaced hop in my step as I passed by the familiar shops and cafes of my life. I caught myself in a window reflection and startled myself with how cheery I looked. I could barely recognize myself and this was certainly not good. I had to get control over this crush, but every time I tried to think my way through it, the way her head tilted when she thought I was being silly would come to mind. Or the way I felt like I was the only person in the world when she looked at me. Or the way her eyes sparkled with mischief, humor, and tenderness. Rather than ending with a new resolve and clarity of mind, my self-directed arguments have been ending only with soft sighs and a warm flushing in my chest. Damn it.
With the now familiar rerun of dissension between my head and heart occupying me, I arrived at The Dal in what felt like seconds. Taking what I meant to be a clearing breath before pulling open the heavy wooden door, my eyes widened as I tried to adjust them to the dimness of the bar. It seemed that the cozy, softness of its distinctive atmosphere lingered into the daylight as well.
As I looked behind the long ebony counter, I found the dark complexion and sharp eyes of Jayla instead of the endless depths of Bo’s. Shit. Well, as much as I was in avoidance mode for this task, I still needed to ingratiate myself to the best friend. Trying to look pleased, I pushed forward towards the bar and contorted my face into what I hoped was a bright smile.
“Hey Jayla! I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by to say hi!,” I hoped I seemed casual and cheery.
“Lauren. Bo traded shifts with me. Something about Dyson needing help with something today,” she said dismissively with a short nod of acknowledgement. She then dramatically pushed the back of her hand to her forehead stating, “The sun hates me.”
I chuckled at her antics noting that the bar was as hospitable to a vampire as one could get. As I shifted, Jayla’s eyes zoned in on the small paper bag in my hand. “Tell me that’s for moi!”
Before I could answer, her long arms lunged over the bar, swiping the bag and I swear all I did was blink and the back half of the scone was already hanging precariously from her mouth. “Ywo a wife-ava. My kee you arow fwom ow on,” the words fell out of the dark cavern between her lips along with a disconcerting amount of crumbs.
I felt the laughter bubbling out before I added, “I’m glad I’m a lifesaver and worthy of keeping around from now on.” I couldn’t help but add a little desperately, “Also, try not to choke now that I’ve earned my place!”
Turns out it takes a lot longer to swallow when one stuffs a jumbo chocolate chip scone in your mouth. I muttered, “If I would have known you like baked goods this much, I would bring you more. I tend to bake when stressed.”
If I hadn’t met Jayla before, I would have thought she was a human flood light with how her eyes turned into bright saucers. Even more crumbs tumbled out as she practically shouted, “Blondie, I accept! Please donate to the charity that is my life!”
My face heated as the stares from the lunch crowd focused on us. While my discomfort rose, Jayla breezed right through it, moaning loudly over what was left of the poor unsuspecting treat as well as the future baked darlings of her dreams.
Thankfully our onlookers finally returned to their burgers and Jayla swallowed the last bits that she fastidiously picked off the sticky oak. After the last bit had been devoured, she raised her eyes and lowered her brows to study me.
Geez, enough with the attention for the day. I was about to make an excuse to leave before Jayla finally piped up, “You gotta be careful with Bo. You seem like good peeps, but I see your heart eyes and you gotta stop. Bo’s like a kid with ADHD. She’s not content and she may be into you now, but you seem like a forever kinda girl and she’s a ‘for now’ kinda girl.”
I was a little shocked by her honesty. I wish I could say that it got me back in my professional lane, but it only solidified that even someone else could see I was a little too interested. Deep breath. No matter what my feelings were or would become, it didn’t matter. I would be crushing Bo and the fact that it would be damaging both of us didn’t matter.