It doesn't, however, stop me.
"I think we're done." I clap my hands together, standing up.
"What?" Abby appears almost panicked.
"It's fine. Really. If you could leave your things, I'll have someone drop them off to you later. You'll get paid extra."
"But—" Rina starts to push back, or I can sense it coming from the furrow of her brows and the narrowing of her eyes.
"I promise it will be well worth it, and honestly"—I give her my sweetest smile—"I'm not really asking." Tova's eyes widen, and she fights to keep her face neutral. "So if you don't mind." I walk over to the tall double doors to the library, opening one. I see Mickey standing there. His arms are folded over his chest.
He gives me a chin nod, which I return with a smile. Mickey's been around for years, so it's not shocking War has him watching over Tova.
"These lovely ladies are leaving," I tell him.
"Right," one huffs, I think Rina, but whatever.
"Thank you for your time." I close the door behind them.
"God, I love you." Tova jumps up from her chair. "You have to teach me how to do that."
"In time," I laugh. "That's why you need me."
"I need you for more than that." She grabs my hand. "Now tell me what's going on. I almost exploded waiting for the details.” Tova leads me back over to the chairs we'd been sitting in.
"Sit," I tell her, scanning the items the ladies left behind and finding a pair of shears to cut her bangs.
"Come on. You're killing me here."
I laugh. "As you know, Z and I are a thing."
"Well, yeah." Tova rolls her eyes. "I need more than that."
"Don't roll your eyes. I need you to stay still," I order her as I start to cut her bangs.
"Fine," Tova says without moving her mouth, remaining completely still.
“Why don’t we wait for me to tell you everything?” I tell her when I’m done with her bangs. I run my fingers through them, giving them a little fluff. Yeah, Tova totally rocks bangs.
“What, why?” From her expression, you’d think I kicked her puppy.
“You just got married and”—I put my hand to her stomach—“you got a baby in there. This time is for you.”
“Nope, nope, nope,” Tova repeats over and over, shaking her head vehemently. “That’s bullcrap. If you don’t want to tell other people, fine, but you have to tell me,” she says very dramatically. “I can’t believe you would put so much stress on me in my condition.” Her hand now goes to her belly.
“I think you’ve been hanging out with me too much.”
“Good.” Tova raises her chin, like she's proud of that. It hits me right in the feels. My dramatics can annoy people. Yet she seems to admire that about me.
"I'm not sure we have the time."
"CliffsNotes then."
"CliffsNotes? Really?" That is not going to work for her. Tova loves the details; we all do. That can be the best part.
"Yes, you owe me. You up and disappeared, and then I found out you're with Marks. You two were over there being BFFs, and I wasn't included.” I can see the hurt in her eyes, but she's trying not to show it.
"You're pissed."
