“I didn’t know you were here,” Ellie squeals, coming around the corner from the back. “Why didn’t you tell me you were stopping in?”
“It was a last-minute decision,” I tell her. “We were having lunch down the street and decided to come in for yoga pants.”
“I love hers,” Joy gushes. “I need them in ev
ery color.”
“There are a bunch in the back that we haven’t put out yet. Let me go see what’s back there.”
She disappears, leaving the two of us milling around with a few other customers.
“How are thing with Dominic?” Joy asks.
“Good.”
“And the lie detector reads that’s a lie.”
“It’s not a lie. They aren’t bad. They’re just . . . not as great as they have been.”
“What’s going on?”
I shrug again, flipping through a rack of shirts. “I’m mad that this little gym rat keeps hitting on him. He’s mad that Barron asked me to Paris.”
“Barron Monroe? Ew.”
“I know,” I sigh. “I’d never go. But it’s enough to make Dom frustrated and ready to kill.”
“Pardon me for saying this but that would be . . . oh my God.” Her eyes bug out as she looks over my shoulder. Just as quickly, she goes back to the rack of clothes. “Who in the hell is that?”
Looking back, I laugh. “Hey, Nate!”
“What’s up, Priss?”
“You know him?” Joy hisses. “Introduce me.”
“Nate, this is my friend Joy,” I say as he gets closer. “Joy, this is Dom’s brother, Nate.”
He stutter-steps as he takes her in, a slow grin splitting his cheeks. “Nice to meet you, Joy.”
“Same here. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Not really,” she giggles. “But isn’t that what people are supposed to say?”
“Excuse me for butting in,” I say, laughing. “What on Earth brings you here, Mr. Hughes?”
“I saw your car and knew this was your family’s place. It’s driving me crazy hanging on to this check and I wanted to give it to you and not be responsible for it anymore.” He takes an envelope from his pocket and extends it to me. “Thank you again, Cam.”
I take the envelope, but he pulls me into an unexpected hug before I get my arm back. “You are a great friend,” he whispers in my ear. “And you’d be an even better one if you told me Joy doesn’t have a boyfriend. Not that I really give a shit, but I need to know which angle to come at it.”
Laughing, I pull back and shake my head. “Free,” I mouth, watching his eyes light up.
“Joy, do you have any plans for this evening?” he asks, jumping right to the point.
“No. And if I did, it would be nothing I can’t move around.”
He grins. She swoons. I can’t help but giggle.