Ann was floating again. Forcing her to make up with Billy paid off. She was daydreaming at work, in class, everywhere they went. Lee was glad she was happy again. Having an angry Ann wasn’t beneficial to anyone, not even total strangers, especially not her sisters. “It’s a slow day girls, I don’t think you need to stay any longer.” Luke, the owner of the diner was standing at the door looking out at the empty streets. The Palm Bay beach party had made all the businesses around very slow. Everyone was there, well except the girls. They had their shift to work, which was turning out to be a half-day. “Luke, why don’t you go, we’ll lock up,” Lee offered. There was also no point in him staying. “Thanks girls.” He walked to his office, took his coat and left the back way. Maria had already started putting the sauces away. Lee cleared the tables before they put the chairs on them. Ann was at the counter talking on her phone. One guess whom she was talking to? Her phone had been glued to

Joe and Billy were on their feet. They rushed to Ash’s side. This time they were able to wrestle him to the ground. Every time Ash got out of Billy’s hold, Joe jumped on him. They were turning, rolling and jumping on each other on the ground. They moved so fast, it was like someone had pressed fast forward. Ash was like a raging bull, fixed on destroying his target.Ash managed to throw them both off him. He looked around the tables searching for Steve, his silver eyes cold and angry. He spotted Steve and rose to his feet. Steve was out cold, his body limp and bleeding.“Stop!” Lee scrambled to her feet and stood in Ash’s way. He didn’t take another step. He stood still and looked down at her. His teeth were bared and seemed sharp, his silver eyes were on her, and his breathing was heavy. His arms were wide at his sides with his curled fingers spread open.Joe and Billy rose from the ground slowly. They stood behind Ash, ready

Ash was in one of his moods. He had been like that since the diner. Lee refusing to see or talk to him made him even more miserable. He knew Lee had seen apart of him that was supposed to remain secret. But that didn’t worry him as much as the violence she had seen he was capable of.When Billy told him there was a possibility that they would see Lee that evening, he made an effort to stay sober that day. He was longing for her, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. Lee had woken up a lot of emotions he thought had died with Rosa.He was in love with Lee, but he was scared of losing her too. He didn’t want to risk Baku finding out about her. He knew he was taking a risk, but staying away from her was no longer an option he was willing to stick with. The beach party was supposed to be their first official date, but Steve messed that up. He hoped Lee would forgive him. He wasn’t sure if there was a future with her, but seeing her after such a l

She turned his head to face her, but he kept his eyes down. “They were jealous of the beautiful magical hours of long lovemaking I had with you.”He raised his eyes and looked at her. “You are going to insist on sugar coating it, aren’t you?”She huffed loudly. “You know, you’re driving me crazy.” She dropped her hand. “And another thing, what did you mean by ‘heard Steve’, you weren’t in the diner?”He cleared his throat. “Yes, I was, you just didn’t see me.” His eyebrows creased, he bit the inside of his lower lip, glanced to his right and then stared back at Lee.“No, you weren’t. My line of vision was only blocked when Steve jumped me, and thirty seconds later you appeared.” Lee watched him carefully, she was sure that was a telltale sign of him lying.“How about we agree to disagree, just for tonight? We can continue this arg

“Of course you do.” His expression changed immediately Maria flashed him her mean face. “But uh, we can’t take them back. They’re all already paid for.” Lee was shocked, what was she going to do with ten beds?“But I was only going to pick one! What was to happen to the other nine?” she said taking the catalogue back from him.He shrugged, “Your sisters were to pick one each if they wanted, and then you were to decide what was to happen to the rest.” It was getting more unbelievable by the second. Maria snatched the catalogue from Lee’s hand, she was excited, and she really wanted a new bed.Just then Ann appeared at the door with her signature attitude. “Get out of my way!” She yelled at the delivery guy and pushed him out of the way.“Hey!” he called back at her as he tried to get back his balance.“What!” she turned and shouted back