The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,5
job at the country club anymore to subsidize my T-shirt endeavor.
“When do you see the judge again?” I ask as she opens the door of Los Tacos.
“Can we please talk about this after we eat? The food is shit in there. I couldn’t even force myself to eat it.” She tells the hostess that there’s only two of us and soon we’re seated. “Hey, you don’t mind spotting me for lunch, do you?”
“Leilani, I love you, but—”
“You’re the best. Thanks.” She picks up her menu and looks it over. “I promise I’ll pay you back.”
“Hey.” I put my finger on the edge of the menu and push it down so I can see her face. “I need the money I posted for your bail. Remember last night before your escapade when you came into my room, asking what I was doing? Remember the T-shirt company I run? Remember all the cute sayings we came up with?”
“Oh yeah, that was fun. I miss times like that with you.” Her hand extends over the free chips and salsa, and she pats my arm.
“Yeah, and I can’t place my bulk T-shirt order unless I have the money that I just used for your bail.”
She places her menu down and takes a chip, dipping it in the salsa. “Don’t even worry about it. Wade owes me money. And after me taking the blame, he’ll pay you back.”
The waitress comes over and we order.
“Okay, because—”
“I said I’ve got you. What? You don’t trust me?” She looks deeply offended.
My face heats for questioning her, guilt weighing heavy on my shoulders. “No, I do. It’s just—”
“Then can we please talk about how my ex-boyfriend—the guy who begged me to marry him—arrested me this morning? How could he do that?” She dips a chip, this time bowling the salsa inside her chip. The waitress brings over her margarita. “Oh, you’re an angel.”
Leilani wastes no time putting her lips over the small straw and sucking in so much, I’m surprised the cup isn’t dry once she’s finished.
“He proposed to you?” This is the first I’m hearing of this.
I’d never bring this up to Leilani, but years ago when she first met Knox, I’d thought maybe I’d be going home with him that night. But just like every guy we went to high school with, as soon as he saw Leilani, I was old news. A crazy “I’m up for anything and live on the edge” kind of girl is hard for most guys to resist.
She nods while chewing a chip. “How did he ever think I’d wanna be married? I mean, I like the guy but…”
“Like? Didn’t you date him for a long time?”
She shrugs, and I decide I don’t really want to talk about Knox or her relationship with him. The whole situation reminds me of that night we first met him and brings my insecurities to the surface.
Without giving her an opportunity to answer—from the way she’s shoving chips in her mouth, she didn’t plan on responding to my question anyway—I return to my original question. “When is your court date?”
Her lips purse. “I think next month or something.”
I roll my eyes as the waitress brings over our meals. “Do you think your parents could pay me the money back?”
She stops the fork filled with enchilada from entering her mouth and gives me the death stare of all death stares. I’m sure she’s wondering how I could suggest involving her parents.
“I need the money,” I say, almost pleading. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’ve been saving for two years for this opportunity.”
“Is this the T-shirt thing again? I mean, come on. Are you really going to make a living selling a few T-shirts?”
She has no idea how much I’ve been selling with print-on-demand, but to get my cost per unit down and get orders out faster, I have to be in control of my inventory. And for that to happen, I have to have the actual shirts.
I push away my tacos and grab my water. My appetite’s gone sour now. “I get that you’re willing to just live out of a suitcase, but I’m not.”
She wipes her mouth and looks into her lap for a moment. “Kam, I totally appreciate you fronting the money. I’d never expect you to go without. I’ll talk to Wade and get it for you. Don’t worry. And I live out of a suitcase because I choose to. I’m always up for anything.”