Page 54 of Calling a Cease-Fire

“Is that Billy?” Lyla asked as she leaned closer to Mia, trying to read her screen.

Mia sat the phone down in her lap and looked at Lyla with furrowed brows. “Who?”

I choked back a laugh. I even remembered the douche canoe the sexy purple dress was for. But I wanted to punch my fist into the air knowing he was no longer even a blimp on Mia’s radar.

Lyla stared at her with concern. “The guy you were seeing?”

“Oh.” Mia shook her head. “No. I never went back out with that guy.”

“Really?” Lyla nodded to Mia’s lap. “So then who were you all smiles about just now?”

Mia glanced at me, hesitation in her eyes. “That was just Zack sending me one of his crazy kitten videos. The little black one likes to cause mischief.” Her lips twitched as she said the last word.

Lyla’s eyes widened as she glanced back and forth between Mia and me. Her expression morphed from surprised to curious. “What are you guys… friends now or something?”

“Yeah.” She smiled at me. “We’re friends.”

Or something was more accurate, but I kept that tidbit to myself.

“I knew Adam was way off base,” Lyla said with an almost relieved tone.

I stiffened and gripped my drink tighter, unsure where she was going with this and hoping it wasn’t going to cause issues. My gaze darted around our group, just now realizing Adam had gotten up and walked over to the food table.

“With what?” Mia tilted her head, looking back at Lyla.

“He thinks you two actually like each other and want to be together, but are worried if things go south it would be uncomfortable since we’re all friends. He was encouraging me to tell you I was okay with it. But I told him there was no way you’re into Zack like that. He’s so not your type.”

She did realize I was sitting right here and could hear her, right?

I sensed more than saw Mia’s body language go rigid. “He’s not?” she asked.

Lyla glanced at me apologetically. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it in a bad way. But like, you two are so different. Zack’s so fun and carefree.” She looked back at Mia. “And you always go for the more grumpy, broody type. Ones who are more like you.”

I couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of my mouth. “Mia’s fun and carefree too, she just hides it well because she’s learned it’s safer to be closed off with people.”

I cursed under my breath as Mia turned her I’m gonna punch you glare on me. Fuck. I wanted to punch myself in the face for blurting it out like that. But I couldn’t really regret it, because it was the truth. She was scared to truly let someone in.

Feeling the shift in the air as Mia continued to stare at me like she hoped I would spontaneously combust, I held up my glass and stood. “Going to get another one,” I said, forcing a smile, and turned toward the bar.

But once I was across the space and glancing back at them, I found myself dying to know what was being said now. They looked deep in conversation. I could only hope it was about what a great idea opposites attract was, and not how bad we would be together.

I grabbed my new drink and went over to grab a plate of food, stepping up beside Adam.

“You were trying to get Lyla to give Mia the okay to…what exactly?”

He raised a brow and looked back over at the girls before turning back to me with a sigh. “Mia won’t let anything happen with you unless she has approval from her best friend. I thought if Lyla could offer that, it might give Mia a push.”

I shook my head. “Oh, how the tables have turned. What did you say to me when I tried to interfere with you and Lyla?”

He smirked. “Butt the fuck out?”

I responded with a clipped nod and slapped him on the back. “Exactly.”

I leaned back against the short stretch of railing on this side, and it creaked loudly, shifting a bit. Adam and I both looked over at it as I moved away.

“That probably needs to be fixed,” I observed.

“Definitely does,” Adam added with a stern nod of his head.