it. “This thing gets me into too much trouble.”
I laughed as he wanted me to, the littlest bit of rationality cutting through my panic.
“I’ll just text Carson and tell him nevermi—”
“I’ll do it,” I said in the spur of the moment, my heart rate jumping back up at the sudden commitment. I wanted to go; I did. Lee, my only friend, had invited me into his group, and I wasn’t letting the opportunity pass, not now.
“Are you sure?” Lee asked, somehow managing to look skeptical and excited at the same time.
Nodding, I let go of the counter and pushed back to stand on my own two feet. I smiled even though it was fake, hoping that would distract him even more. “I’m sure,” I said with even more confidence as I felt myself return to normal—well—my normal. “I’ve been interested in playing for a long time, but I never had any friends that were into it as well. I want to do it.”
Lee returned my smile, but it seemed less somehow. “Well, we meet every Saturday at four at Carson’s place. He lives downtown above the umm…” He blushed, something I’d never really seen him do before, as he stumbled over his words. “Umm, he lives above a club. We don’t have to go through it or anything. There’s a back entrance. Umm, yeah.” He blew out a breath and looked at the wall next to him innocently as if he wasn’t acting weird.
“Okay,” I said, drawing out the word, wondering why he was bringing it up in the first place. I wasn’t the club-going type, so it didn’t matter to me one way or the other where this Carson lived.
“You know what, forget I said anything.” Lee raised a hand to his face and rubbed at his temple. “I need to go back to bed before I say something else stupid.”
Nodding, I decided to blame his weirdness on his exhaustion. Then again, Lee was kind of strange even when he wasn’t tired.
Then I thought of a problem in his little plan. I lifted a hand and scratched at my neck as I glanced away, a little embarrassed to admit I needed a ride. I knew Lee knew I didn’t have a car, but still. Thankfully, the timer I’d set for the muffins went off, giving me the perfect distraction. “So, uh, I don’t have a car and downtown is kind of far. I’d use my bike, but—”
“Mills, it’s—”
“—I guess I can get a taxi or call one of those ridesharing things—”
“Miller!” Lee said, raising his voice and cutting me off since I’d ignored him the first time. “It’s fine. I’ll pick you up and bring you home afterward.”
“You will?” I asked, turning toward him. I felt a bit of panic at the thought of relying on someone else to get me home but forced it down.
Lee is my friend. Lee cares about me.
“Yeah.” Lee nodded, but his eyes were on the chocolate chip muffins in my hand. “Now, give me one of those muffins.”
Smirking, I rubbed my fingers together through the oven glove I was wearing. Lee might be my best friend, but he wasn’t getting my muffins for free.
“Fine,” he sighed, reaching into his pocket for his wallet.
Setting the tray on the counter, I took off my gloves and carefully lifted one of the piping-hot muffins out of the tin.
“Be careful, it’s very hot,” I warned, passing the muffin to Lee.
Taking the money he’d set on the counter, I rang up his order and returned his change. Once again, he haphazardly shoved the dollar bills and coins into his pocket. Leaving Lee to his treat, I started stocking the display case.
“Mmm. Ooh, hot, hot, hot.”
I looked up in time to see Lee waving his hand in front of his mouth. I smirked at the little smear of chocolate on his chin. “You got a little something right here,” I said, touching my chin in the same spot.
“Thanks,” he said, using his thumb to wipe the chocolate away.
I laughed and shook my head at his childishness.
“What?” he asked, looking at me as if I was the one who was insane.
“We have napkins.” I pointed to the napkin dispenser sitting on the counter in front of him.
“We have napkins,” he mocked, licking the chocolate from his finger. “So, you’re definitely in?”
“Huh?”
“D&D? Tomorrow at three?” he clarified, his eyes still on the muffin in his hand.
I smiled. “Yeah, I’m in.”
Chapter Two
Carson
“Here are the rest of the timesheets, boss.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking