The first nodded. “I should have made him work for it.”
“Oh, he’s not.” I offered a polite smile. “It was just a thank-you gift.”
The women exchanged a glance, then the first one tilted her head and patted my arm. “Honey, he is most definitely working for it. Now whether or not he is successful is up to you, but trust me, the effort was there.”
I glanced back at the entrance as if Landon would magically reappear, then shook my head. “We’re just friends…” My words trailed off for two reasons: I had no business arguing with my future tipper, and second, it was an argument I clearly wasn’t going to win. Everything in her expression was set. From her slightly raised eyebrow, to her pursued lips, to the creases pressing into her forehead, her expression screamed “Don’t be stupid.” So I did the smart thing and shut my mouth.
Sensing my defeat, her expression softened.
“Well, I hope you enjoyed your lunch. I’ll get you another iced tea and if you need anything else, just wave me down.” I gave them both a big smile, then darted back to the kitchen to check on my orders and grab her a refill.
Of course, I knew she’d been wrong. Landon really just wanted to thank me for my kind gesture with one of his own. No big deal. And the invite to see him at the bar? That was just him being friendly as well. An open invitation to suggest I was always welcome. I’d done something nice; now he had too. No big deal. Right? But what was that feeling creeping through my stomach? Dread? Or butterflies?
Regardless of which, they’d both need to be stifled since neither one had a place in my life when it came to Landon. He was just Colby’s brother…one who seemed to know an awful lot about me.
My gaze traveled to the door again and I yanked it back to the order slips hanging above the prep window. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t even entertain the idea of Landon having feelings for me, or vice versa. That’d be…wrong. Very wrong. The Callahan boys were all off limits. Colby because he chose to be, and the other two because they’d never be Colby. And he was the only one I’d ever want…right?
Chapter 12
Over the next few days, I’d decided to focus on getting ahead on school assignments. Not because I had any exciting plans for, well, the rest of ever, but I had nothing better to do at the moment. Colby and I finally seemed to be back on track friendship-wise. I was trying hard not to overthink the Landon situation. And I didn’t want to dwell on the Luis and Dad party takeover either. The best thing to do was keep my mind busy with school. After all, the semester would wrap up in a few weeks and finals would be here before I knew it.
As I sat on my bed with my laptop, working my way through a review, my phone rang, and considering work was the only place that didn’t just text, I reluctantly picked it up, having no desire to fill in for someone again. But to my surprise it was Felicity.
“Hey!”
“You called,” I blurted, and she laughed.
“I know I’m the world’s worst friend lately, but the studio expansion has become a full-time job. Add in school…well, you know how it goes.”
“That I do.”
“So I want to catch up and hear about everything that’s been going on, but before that I wanted to say I’m so sorry I won’t be able to make it to your grandma’s party.”
“Wait, what?”
“Um, the invitation? Nice, by the way. A text would’ve sufficed,” she teased, “but this is very impressive.”
“I didn’t send it.”
“Oh. Um, was I not…”
“No, I mean of course I want you there, but I’m not the one who planned the party.”
“Oh, that makes sense, your grandma has so many friends—”
“My dad.”
“Your dad?”
“Yep. Out of nowhere. Decided to plan it all. And, to be honest, I have no idea how he even got your address.”
“Wow. So will that be weird, considering you haven’t seen him in what…two years?”
“He’s actually not coming. Off on business. He’s sending Luis.”
“Oh.” She got quiet, knowing my relationship with my brother was even more strained than the one with my dad.
“So you mind filling me on the details of the party? Because I don’t know any of them.”
“Isla…I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry I haven’t been around more for you. Here you’ve been going through all this—”
“I slept with Colby.”
“Wait, what?”
“As in sex.”
“Yeah, I figured as much, but why don’t you sound happier about it?”