Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
Barrett
W hen I get to the job site the next morning, Abel is sitting in his truck. He gets out as he sees me doing the same. "Hey, Dad and Alexis said that there's some issues with the supplies we need to work today. They're talking with Hank, but right now we're on hold. Wanna go get some breakfast?"
"Yeah, where do you wanna go?" I ask. I don't want to suggest Get Baked, because I'll never hear the end of it.
"We definitely need to go see Gabby, I want something sweet. A good coffee, and some fucking air conditioning." He waves his hand in front of his face. "Did you see the forecasted temps for the next few days? Our first heat wave is going to be annoying."
Abel hates hot weather, and I won't hear the end of this until winter. Then he'll bitch about how cold it is. "Let's go, a muffin sounds good. You want me to drive, or are you?"
"I'll drive."
It takes us a few minutes to get into town, but when we do, we park down the street from Get Baked. There's a small line visible through the brand-new window. It makes my heart happy that the shop is getting more popular.
"Who's the chick at the front counter?" Abel asks as we walk toward the front door.
"Her name is Valentina. She came in the other day, asking if Gabby had any openings. I guess there was a little bit of a trial period, and Gabby hired her. Vaughn hit on her already."
Abel leans his head back, laughing as he grabs his stomach. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. He's been waiting for an outsider who doesn't know him well."
I shake my head in agreement. "And they have to be willing to put up with his crazy schedule. He's had issues with that previously."
"It's hard enough to be friends with him." Abel opens the door for us and we hop in line. "I can only imagine what it would be like to try and make plans with him. We have trouble."
"Yeah." I watch as Valentina runs around behind the case, filling orders and ringing them up. Crossing my arms over my chest, I rock back on my heels as I tilt my head up, trying to see what they have available. "God, I hope they still have cinnamon rolls." I drop an arm and a rub a hand across my stomach.
"I'm sure the owner would hook you up." He rolls his eyes.
Right then, said owner comes out and looks over the line. Her lips tilt in a small smile as she takes in how many people are here. "Go ahead and just start ringing people up." She points to the register. "And I'll help move this line along."
I love watching her work. She's great at customer service, and everyone loves her. She has true joy when she makes someone's day. There's a bump to my back, and I turn around to see who it is. Fuckin' hell. It's Nolan. "What are you doing here?"
He points over to where he's holding his daughter on his hip. "This one." He points over to her. "Loves the oatmeal, and I'm going to have to go out of town tomorrow, so I thought I'd bring her to her favorite place before I go."
The one thing everyone can say about Nolan is that he's a great father. In some ways I wish mine had been like him. He doesn’t mind taking time out of his day to make sure his daughter has a good start to hers, absolutely doesn’t phase him. If only mine had thought of me that way. "That's nice of you. Now what are you getting for yourself?"
He laughs. "Breakfast and lunch, to be perfectly honest. If I could have it for dinner tonight, too, I would."
This is why he and I are friends. Neither one of us love to cook, but we will if we have to. It's finally mine and Abel's turn. We walk up to the counter, and she gives me a bright smile. "Believe it or not, I knew you were in line, and I was just trying to get people through quickly so I could see you."
"Oh, I believe it. What do you have this morning? He wants something sweet, and I think I do too, but do you have any of those breakfast burritos you had last week?" I rub at my stomach thinking about how good they were.
"I might have one or two back there. I could look for you."
The fact that she's willing to take time out of her day and go look when I know she probably doesn't have the extra minutes is everything I need to know regarding how she feels about me. "If you would, that's amazing. I'll also take a mini-cinni." I point at one of the miniature cinnamon rolls. "And I'll take a vanilla cream cold brew too."
She nods, before looking over at Abel. "What do you want today? I have the fresh cinnamon muffins coming out in a few minutes. I know you have a sweet tooth."
"God, I'm gonna have so many damn cavities this time when I go to the dentist." He blows out a breath. "But that's what I want, and can I get one of those cold brews, too?"
"No problem. Go on over and pay, and I'll bring everything out to y'all."
Something about that doesn't sit right with me. I reach across the case, and tug on her hand. "Come to the doorway and let me know when you're ready, I'll come back there and help you carry it out. I don't want you doing all of that without help."
Her light eyes glisten slightly. "I will. Thank you."
Before? She would've argued and said she could do it on her own. There would have been an argument between the two of us, and I would've gotten annoyed as she tried to explain her position. This time, I like to think we're both being a little more understanding of each other.
"Y'all staying?" Abel looks back at Nolan and his daughter. "We'll get a table for all of us."
"Yeah, we can eat before I take her over to the daycare."
We push two very small tables together and go about getting the highchair, while we wait for our food. I have a seat so that I can see the doorway that Gabby will be coming out of. "How's it going in the concrete business?" I ask as I lean across the table.
"Busy as ever." He blows out a breath. "I need to hire a couple of workers. Either of you know anyone who's looking for work? I'm doing twelve or thirteen hours a day, and I'm burning the candle at both ends."
"Which makes sense. You do really good work."
"Yeah, but I haven't been able to hire anyone who's willing to do more than the bare minimum. I need someone who's willing to work at least half as hard as I am." He grabs a napkin and starts tearing it into small pieces. Something I've watched him do more times than I care to count, it's definitely a nervous habit.
"I'll let dad know, he's probably going to know someone better than the both of us."
Right as I'm about to say something, Gabby's in the doorway, waving at me. "Be right there." When I approach, I press her a little further back, so that no one can see us. "I missed you this morning." I whisper as I lean in and take a quick kiss. "We used to wake up together every morning."
"We did," she muses. "Maybe it'll be something we can start again soon?"
I groan deep in my throat. "God, I hope so. Tonight, wanna meet me over at Monroe's? Or I could come pick you up? Your choice."
"Come pick me up. I love riding with you. What time?"
"Seven okay with you? It'll be a late night..."
She reaches over and grabs my shirt in between her fingers, tugging me toward her. "I'm counting on it."