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“No, Levi.”
I ball up a napkin and throw it at her. “If you knew who he was, why did you ask me?”
“I wanted to sound nonchalant.”
“I told you he was a player.”
“This is what it looks like to live on the edge,” she tells me. “You should do it with me. Stop listening to that brain of yours, call Micah, and tell him you need him, you want him, you can’t live without him.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Fine. I guess we’ll head back to work.”
I stand, and as soon as I do, Tab slips her hand into the front pocket of my Pet Threads apron and grabs my phone.
“What are you?—”
The complete look of giddiness on her face clues me in real quick. I try to take the phone from her, but she moves it away, giggling to herself.
“Tab.” I reach for it again, but she moves the opposite way. “I swear to God.” I bear hug her while my hand pins her other one down.
“I’m done, I’m done,” she laughs.
I groan. “What embarrassing shit did you just do?”
She gives me back my phone, and I immediately go to my text conversation with Micah. Sure enough, there’s a sent text there that I didn’t write.
Me: Afternoon delight? I need your dick. My brain needs your dick.
My jaw unhinges. “He’s going to know I didn’t write this.”
“Yeah, but he won’t care.”
Micah: Exactly what I was thinking. I’m almost done with my morning run. Meet me in ten at my place?
Tab shrieks in my ear. “Don’t worry. He’ll set your mind right. And yes, I’ll watch Athena and hold down the fort. Remember, that when I get a man, I expect this sort of generosity to be reciprocated.”
“You mean meddling?” I ask while she strides toward the exit.
“If dick is involved, I’m pro meddling.”
“What if I don’t go?” I trail after her, trying to keep up.
“Please. You’re dick-notized. You’re going, and you’ll thank me later, too.”
I stand outside the door to the store. Tab walks in, but I hesitate. Maybe I’m letting the idea of how good being in Micah’s arms is lead my thoughts, but I can’t help it. Tab is right. I can’t keep worrying about what might happen when I should be going with the flow.
Right now, Micah and I are solid. Athena is happy and healthy. Business is good. Clearly, I have good friends. They start waving bye to me, and my shoulders drop. I’ve been dismissed for the day.
I go to open the door anyway to give them some last-minute instruction, but Tab shouts something and Sunny lunges forward, locking it right in front of me.
“Hey,” I protest, jiggling the glass barrier between us.
“We’ve got this handled!” Tab yells, and everyone waves again. And they keep waving until I turn around and call a rideshare.
Like Tab said, I’m overthinking everything.
Deep breaths. Everything’s going to be absolutely fine.