Page 24 (1/2)

"Mali, order up," my boss, Jake, yells

"On it," I yell back

I walk over, take the coffee and serve the dreamily at each other Vomit

"Mali, hey"

I flinch at the sound of Pippa’s voice and turn to see her standing, s at me God damn her perfection Why can’t I be more like her? So pure So beautiful My heart aches, but I sirl, and it’s not her fault Rainer is doing what he’s doing

"Hey, Pip"

"I thought I’d coht, of course I’ up"

"I’ll wait"

She grins and takes a seat at an eo, so I join Pippa, who is now sipping a latte I slide onto the seat and she stares over at s?" she asks

I know she’s not here to ask me that Pippa wants to know aboutsweet about it, but the fact is she wants to know and I’ to tell herkind of

"Look, Pip, both you and I knohy you’re really here, so just ask the questions I don’t"You care about Rainer I’d do the sa"

"I do like you, Mali Please don’t think I’m here just because of him"

I smile at her "I know that"

"I justI care about him, and the situation between the two of you has me curious You look at him differently and I’ve never seen himspend time with any woman except me"

"What Rainer and I have is casual, Pippa He made that clear"

"Then why did he stay at your house?"

I sigh "He already answered that"

"And he lied, which he never does"

She figured him out That doesn’t surprise me

"Surely you can see that he’s in love with you, Pippa Don’t you think itto protect you"

Her eyes flash with pain "I don’t expect him to protect me anymore I want Rainer to fall in love; I want him to be happy"

Anymore? What does she mean by anymore?

"Well obviously he cares about you, and I think a part of hiht be jealous of other women I don’t know All I know is, he lied because he didn’t want to hurt you"

"And he hurt you instead"

I meet her eyes "I’m just casual, Pippa, and I’m okay with that"

"Do you really think I believe that? I see you looking at hi in your eyes, a deep pain, alret If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve known hi time"

I have

"II just feel a connection to hih, Pippa"

"But you’re not okay with it"