Page 27 of The Last Call Home (The Timberbridge Brothers #5)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cass: It’s been a day and I don’t think I can find time to meet either one of you. Are we sure we need to keep this under wraps?

Mal: Mostly for your safety.

Lilah: I don’t want Mom to be on my case. Although it is fun to see her wonder which one I’m going to choose. I should tell her that I’m not interested in either one of you. Add a third one to the mix.

Mal: You want to add a third person?

Lilah: No, just another bachelor to spook my mother.

Cass: Sounds like a lot of trouble. We’ll just pretend that we’re fighting for your hand in marriage.

Lilah: Is there going to be a duel?

Mal: I’m not supposed to look interested in you. Remember, if the stupid syndicate finds out they might do something to you.

Cass: Fine, we won’t play, but it would’ve been fun. Any plans for tonight?

Lilah: I can’t do anything with you. I’m visiting Simone—for real this time.

Mal: It’s a little strange that she didn’t let you know she moved back to town. You two were close.

Cass: The doctor is your best friend?

Lilah: Nysa, Simone, and I were close. You kind of have to be when you grow up in a town this small. It’s either ride-or-die or you avoid your enemies—there’s no middle ground.

Mal: You never had enemies.

Lilah: I never entertained people who were cruel to them. Nys was the new girl with the tragic past, living with her grandparents. And Simone? She was a teen mom’s kid—like her mother’s sins were stitched into her clothes. Hence she barely had friends.

Cass: Really, Simone was . . . I don’t see it. She’s the most outgoing person.

Lilah: You know Simone?

Mal: Hate to interrupt this chat, but unlike you two, I have to work.

Cass: I worked all night, sheriff.

Lilah: I started working at four in the morning. You were the one slacking while we were being productive.

Mal: That’s not what I meant :unamused: emoji

Cass: We should start syncing our schedules. I have people coming to work for me so I can be more alert in the mornings.

Lilah: Why? Is there something wrong?

Cass: No, it’s procedure.

Lilah: If something was wrong, you’d tell me, right?

Mal: Probably not. He’d ship you to another planet first, then bring you back when we had finished with the assholes.

Cass: What he said.

Lilah: I’m not going anywhere, but send Mom—if things get . . .y’know.

Mal: It’s fine. Don’t scare her, Cassian.

Cass: You’re the one who said I’d ship her. Not me.

Lilah: Don’t start arguing. Mal, go rescue kittens from trees.

Mal: I do more than that.

Cass: He’s the hero in town, remember.

Mal: I’ll talk to you later.