Here I was in town for less than two weeks, and the grumpy guy who mostly hated me had just taken care of me.
Maybe someday I’d find a guy who both liked me and was willing to share the burden of taking care. Or maybe I would just end up alone like Tina had always predicted.
“You having some kind of breakdown? ’Cause I sure as hell have better things to do than watch that.”
“Oh, good,” I said, smothering my hysteria. “Grumpy Knox is back. What does this guy look like?”
“According to Justice, he looks like some dude named Henry Golding.”
“Henry Golding the hot actor or Henry Golding some local biker?” It was a very important distinction.
“I don’t know any Henry Golding biker. But this guy showed up at the cafe asking for you. Justice said he about lost it when he saw your sister’s mug shot behind the register.”
I was never going to live this down.
“You know him?”
It was my turn to be evasive. “Can we get Waylay and go for those burgers?”
SIXTEEN
THE INFAMOUS STEF
Naomi
On the way home, I programmed Nina’s dads’ numbers into my shiny, new phone. They were not the first numbers in there. Knox had already programmed contacts for Liza, Honky Tonk, Sherry, Waylay’s school, and Café Rev.
There was even one for himself.
I didn’t know what that said or meant. And frankly, I was too damn tired to worry about it. Especially when I had a bigger problem.
That bigger problem was sitting on the front steps of the cottage with a glass of wine.
“Stay in the truck,” Knox growled.
But I was already halfway out. “It’s fine. I know him.”
Waylay, crammed in the backseat with all our purchases, rolled down her window and stuck her head out. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Stef,” I said.
He put down the wine and opened his arms.
I ran into them. Stefan Liao was the world’s perfect man. He was smart, funny, thoughtful, outrageously generous, and so pretty it hurt to look directly at him. The only son of a real estate-developing father and an app-developing mother, he was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and exquisite taste in everything.
And somehow I’d gotten lucky enough to land him as a best friend.
He swept me up in his arms and twirled me around.
“I’m still incredibly pissed at you,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you for loving me even when you’re pissed,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and breathing in his expensive cologne.
Just seeing him, hugging him, made me feel more grounded.
“You gonna introduce me to Blondie and the Beast?” Stef asked.
“Not done hugging yet,” I insisted.
“Hurry it up. Beast looks like he wants to shoot me.”
“He’s more of a Viking than a beast.”
Stef tilted my head back with his hands and planted a kiss on my forehead. “It’s all gonna be fine. I promise.”
Tears stung my eyes. I believed him. And the relief I felt from that was enough to release Niagara Falls of tears.
“Where do you want your shit?” Knox growled.
That was enough to dry up Niagara Falls. I spun around and found him standing only a foot away. “Seriously?”
“Got things to do, Daze. Don’t have all night to stand around watching you make out with Henry Golding.”
“Henry Golding? Nice,” Stef said.
“Waylay, come meet my friend,” I called.
High from her shopping, arcade, and burger experience, Waylay forgot to look annoyed.
“Waylay Witt. Knox Morgan. This is Stefan Liao. Stef for short. Way for short. And Leif Erikson when he’s being moody.”
Stef grinned. Knox growled. Waylay admired Stef’s shiny smartwatch.
“The pleasure is all mine. You look like your aunt,” Stef said to Waylay.
“Really?” Waylay looked not too horrified by that statement, and I wondered if my shopping bribery had worked its magic. Score.
Knox, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to dismember Stef.
“What’s your problem?” I mouthed at him.
He glared at me as if I was the one to blame for his sudden mood swing.
“Knox,” Stef said, holding out a hand. “I can’t thank you enough for looking out for my girl here.”
Knox grunted and stared at the offered hand for a beat before shaking it.
The handshake went on longer than necessary.
“Why are their fingers turning white?” Waylay asked me.