for, lover (Completed; editing)

Chapter 69

Tony wakes me up with breakfast in bed. This is the first time he has actually woken up before me so he decided to go all out. I've got a plate full of pancakes, hash browns, and bacon. My stomach is already full just by looking at it.

"You didn't have to do this. I'm capable of cooking sometimes."

"Me too. In fact, any other meal I would say is a no, but I think I make pretty good pancakes."

He's more confident this time. Last time he tried to cook for me didn't turn out the way he had hoped. He's hopeful and I wouldn't dare tell him it's bad even if I don't like it. It's exceptionally hard to screw up pancakes anyway, so the chances are good.

He sits across from me with his own plate. "Any plans for today?" He asks me.

I can't tell him my lunch plans with Miles. Not until I can decide what I'm going to do. We'll have to talk about it eventually.

A bit of guilt trickles down my chest when I shake my head. "No, not really."

"Well, I should be back around 3:30. You can wait around here if you want to escape Maddy for a little longer."

I laugh. "Maybe. I might go out. Not sure yet."

I take a bite of my eggs and sit in silence for a few minutes while I play on my phone. We finish up our breakfast and I walk Tony to his car.

"See you tonight, beautiful." He winks and plants a kiss on my mouth before he gets in the seat.

I walk back inside once he's out of view and grab my phone from the counter to text Miles.

"Are we still on for lunch at 12?"

"Yup." He texts back.

I let out a deep breath and walk to the bathroom to take a quick shower and actually wash my hair this time before I leave.

I show up to Panera Bread a little earlier than I aimed for where Miles is already waiting by the door, sitting at one of the outside tables. I walk over there and tap on his shoulder. He turns his head and stands when he notices it's me.

"Hey."

He's wearing that revolting yellow jacket he used to wear when we first met.

"I thought you got rid of that jacket." I tease.

"This one? Why the hell would I do that?"

"It's not very flattering." I chuckle.

"Good thing I'm not trying to impress anyone." He smiles and holds the door open for me.

I stick my tongue out at him and walk inside. I can hear him laughing when he follows in behind me.

"Order whatever you want. It's on me." He says.

I shake my head. "No, Miles. I can buy my own food. Let's not make this inappropriate."

"More inappropriate than it already is? Does Tony know you're here right now?" He challenges.

I sigh. "What exactly was I supposed to tell him? Hey! I'm meeting up with my ex to scheme a way into putting the guy responsible for my best friend's death in jail!"

"Yeah. Honesty is the best policy, love."

I shake my head and order a bagel and a coffee at the counter.

"Just a bagel?"

"I ate a big breakfast." I respond.

He orders and follows me to the waiting station. "Is that your shirt?" He asks, pressing his shoulder to the wall.

I look at him and shake my head, wondering why the hell that would matter.

"Oh, so you left your boyfriend's to come have lunch with me? Interesting."

I roll my eyes. "It was last minute that I stayed over there and he's at work. We made these plans days ago."

Miles snickers and grabs his tray from the counter. I roll my eyes and get mine too, following him to one of the back booths of the seating area.

"So what do you have in mind?" I ask.

"Damn, we're jumping right into it?"

"I don't have all day, Miles."

He shrugs and takes a bite of his sandwich. I sigh under my breath, taking the knife to spread the cream cheese on my bagel.

"It can't be hard to bust a drug cartel right? All we gotta do is act like we're buying something and set them up."

I laugh. "Are you joking? If it was that easy, there wouldn't be any of them left. You can't even guarantee it'll be Phillip that shows up."

"Yeah, that's true." He sighs. "Then how would we do it? Do you have any better ideas?"

"This is all too farfetched, Miles. What are you going to gain from it anyway?"

"Peace of mind? Your forgiveness?"

I glare at him. "I told you that I forgave you."

"Then I'm doing it for the greater good."

"I doubt that." I take a bite of my bagel. It has way too much cream cheese on it now. I'm still going to eat it.

"It would be nice for you to be supportive."

"It's hard to be supportive when you're risking your life on something that probably won't even work." I bark.

"You don't have much faith in me."

"When's the last time you talked to Trent and Reed?" I ask.

He sips his drink and thinks for a moment. "When I left Tennessee. When you got shot."

"You really want to get them involved?"

He presses his lips together. "Well, yeah...if that's possible."

"Text them. Tell them you want to talk. Tell them to meet you somewhere. Then go and send a message to Phillip posing as Reed and act like you want to buy more and pay him back for all that he owes him. I can relay the message to the police saying that you're my ex boyfriend who got caught up in some pretty messy shit that needs to be taken care of before someone gets hurt."

"What if they don't fall for that?"

"They're all pretty dumb. They'll surely fall for it." I assure him.

I cant promise that. I don't know why I should even suggest anything in the first place. I should just keep trying to talk him out of it. He knows this won't fix anything but he's so determined to do something.
Hell, I'm starting to think it wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. A little bit of well-deserved karma if we can make it happen.

He crosses his arms. "You actually want to help me?"

"If it means you'll let it go, then yes. You just have to be sure this is what you want to do. They're your friends."

Mikes shakes his head. "No they aren't. They're murders and I don't want anything to do with them."