Page 16 of Calling a Cease-Fire

“No,” Lyla said, her voice a bit muffled. “I doubt she’d want to. It’ll be awkward.”

Was she talking to me?

“What would be awkward?”

She hesitated before saying, “Adam told me to invite you to breakfast. We’re heading to the diner in twenty minutes.”

“Why would that be awkward?” On cue, my stomach rumbled loudly. I would much prefer diner food to whatever scraps I had in my apartment.

A heavy sigh came through the line. “Zack’s coming too.”

Oh. I smiled. Maybe he could fill me in on what did or didn’t happen last night.

A memory flashed through my mind, and I gasped.

My face heated from embarrassment. “I threw up and then cried on him.”

Damn. No wonder nothing happened last night.

“What?” Lyla chirped and then followed it up with a laugh. “You didn’t!”

“I totally did.” I started to bend over, giggling, but my head reminded me we were still woefully hungover, and I straightened and braced myself against the counter again. “Sobbed like a baby. He probably thinks I have a split personality disorder or something.”

“Yeah, you probably don’t want to come to breakfast then.”

I shrugged. Not that she could see that. “Nah, I’ll come. It beats going grocery shopping and cleaning my apartment on my day off.”

“Ok. You sure?”

“Yup.” Well, just one problem. “Any chance you guys can pick me up and take me to my car?”

“Of course.”

I wasn’t looking forward to the teasing I knew was coming from Zack. But then again, I deserved it after the way I’d acted. The least I could do was clear the air and apologize.

And then I needed to get my shit together.

After Adam and Lyla dropped me at my car, I stopped to get gas before heading over to the diner. I pulled up in front, parking next to Zack’s Jeep. It really was a nice ride, and I was extremely happy I’d waited to puke until I was outside the vehicle the night before. I offered a silent apology for my behavior, again, then headed inside to find everyone. They were sitting a few booths away from the door, so I squared my shoulders, took a deep breath, and strode over.

Adam and Zack sat on one side with their backs to me and Lyla waved from the other side. I took two steps and froze when Zack looked at me over his shoulder. His smile was genuine, but it was the heat in his gaze that had my feet rooted to the floor.

Dammit. I really hoped he didn’t think anything was going to happen between us. That would be my luck. Serve me right, too. Getting all damn emotional. Who knows what I said. Or did.

I sighed and continued forward, taking the seat next to Lyla. “I’m starving,” I blurted out and opened my menu, leaving no question where my entire focus was. “And I definitely need more water.”

“Order some pickles.” Zack glanced at me over his menu.

I scrunched up my nose at the thought.

He chuckled. “Who doesn’t like pickles?”

“They’re fine on a burger or sandwich, but gross by themselves.”

“I’m with Mia on this one.” Adam pointed at me as he smirked at Zack. “You’re the only psycho who eats pickles for fun.”

“I must like the taste of salty things.”

The way he said it as he stared at me gave me the impression there was a deeper meaning beneath his words.