Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,17
say later he’s hung up. I shake my head and crack a smile. “You’re trying to get me in trouble aren’t you?”
Jaylinn smirks. “Well, you are the flirt.”
She’s got me there. “Fair enough, so what’s up?”
She drums her fingers on her legs. “Does Cooper know I brought Ryan here?”
“So that’s his name?”
“Well?”
I nod. “Yeah, he does. I can’t keep shit like that from him, Jay. It’s not right and I can’t have problems between me and Cooper. It’s bad for business.”
The corner of her lips curls up. “Good.”
“Good?”
She shrugs. “Just another curveball.”
Now I’m smiling. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Of course, I knew you would tell him.”
She’s out of her mind and I love it. “Smart girl.”
“I learn from the best.”
I chuckle. “That you do.”
Jaylinn stands. “I brought pizza with me along with your employee.”
“But she doesn’t have to be here for another two hours.”
She walks towards the door. “I know but I’ve got to run over to Hailey’s and she didn’t have a ride.” She walks out mumbling something about a boyfriend but I can’t be too sure that’s what she said.
My stomach growls and I quickly follow behind her. I probably should have stopped to get something before coming here but honestly I didn’t even think about it. Jaylinn and Layla are standing at the bar with the pizza. Layla reaches for a piece like she hasn’t eaten in days. Half the piece is gone before I make it to the bar which is only a few steps away. She looks like she is losing weight which she can’t afford now as it is. I wonder when was the last time she ate? I really hope she’s not one of those who think she’s fat when she’s the opposite.
Jaylinn is staring at her as I reach in the box for a piece. “Hungry?”
Layla sets the slice down and wipes her face with a napkin. “Yeah, I haven’t eaten all day.”
Jaylinn’s brows furrow. “I asked if you wanted something earlier when we stopped for coffee.”
Layla looks away. “I know and I wasn’t hungry at the time.”
Jaylinn shakes her head at her friend. “Well, I’ve got to get going. You have a ride home right?”
Layla shrugs a shoulder. “Yeah, I’ll catch a cab or something.”
“Brian’s not picking you up?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. He said he would but, let’s face it, he says a lot of things and doesn’t do them.”
Jaylinn laughs bitterly. “Yeah, well, I still can’t figure out why you’re with him.” She gets a twinkle in her eye suddenly and glances over towards me. “I’m sure Eli here would give you a ride, right?”
Inwardly groaning at her, all I can do is nod my head. She thinks she’s funny with that double meaning but I don’t mess with girls who are taken and she knows that first hand.
Layla shakes her head. “Oh no, I’ll catch a cab, really it’s not a problem.”
I place a hand over my heart acting like she’s wounded me. “Ouch.”
Jaylinn snickers as she walks backwards towards the door. “Play nice.” She winks at me. “I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t threaten me.” I mumble.
“What was that?”
Smiling, I turn and yell, “Yes, pretty girl.”
She shakes her head and leaves.
An awkward silence falls over Layla and myself again like the other night when I took her home. Now I understand why it was like that. Something was holding me back from flirting with her, from being my normal self.
“So was your boyfriend the one who was supposed to pick you up the other night?” I ask keeping my voice nice and calm when really what I want to do is rip that fucking asshole’s throat out.
“Yeah,” she says quietly. “Got held up he said.”
“In the middle of the night?” I shouldn’t pry but that’s a douchebag move.
“Yeah,” is all she says. I guess it’s better than sticking up for him like some girls I know.
“That’s not happening again.” I state. She’ll never wait for him again, not when I can help it.
Her brows draw together in confusion. “What’s not happening?”
She can’t be serious. “You waiting for him.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” She adds with a slight smile of defiance.
Ignoring her, I walk around the bar and pull out two shot glasses and fill them with tequila. I slide one to her and raise my shot to her. Layla glances between the shot and me, contemplating her decision. She knows the rules, no drinking on the job.
“If you don’t take the shot you’re