Chapter Fourteen #2
After sliding into the little booth, we both removed our jackets. I snagged the menu—even though I was pretty certain I knew what I wanted.
Lorcan was slower to snag his.
I grasped his hand. “This morning is on me, and you can cook dinner tonight.” I wasn’t certain of the extent of his culinary skills, but I had plenty of easy meals.
“Oh.” He shifted a couple of inches before meeting my gaze.
Is he uncomfortable because I grabbed his hand? We were holding hands outside—
“I thought we’d eat leftover spaghetti.”
“We can. I just figured those would be my lunches and we could cook something else tonight. I have some chicken breasts. I think some ground beef as well. We could make tacos.” A smile spread across my face. “I love tacos.”
“That would make you happy?”
“Something simple and hearty? You bet.” Please believe me. Just because I have a bit of money in the bank, doesn’t mean I need expensive things. And a bit of money was relative. I had a rainy-day fund. The rest of my money went to paying down my mortgage.
“Thank you.” He ducked his head.
But didn’t let go of my hand.
“Good morning.” Sarabeth stood by the edge of the booth. “Lovely to see you both.” She spotted our entwined hands and her grin grew. “Oh, I hope this is a long-term thing. You make the cutest couple.” She snagged her pen and notepad. “Have you decided?”
Lorcan’s gaze shot to mine.
“I’ll have the French toast platter. With a side of bacon.” Because I was going to enjoy myself this morning.
“Uh.” Lorcan frowned. “Can I do the sunrise breakfast? Scrambled eggs and sourdough bread?”
“Sure.” Sarabeth snagged our menus.
“Oh, and peanut butter.” He smiled shyly. “I love peanut butter.”
“For you? Anything. Oh, drinks?”
“Coffee.” We answered at the same time.
“Perfect. I’ll have those here in a jiffy.” She spun and headed back to the front of the diner. Her long blonde hair swished in a ponytail, and she sashayed with a confidence I found inspiring. She was always so damn happy.
Despite her home life. Her circumstances had been confided to me. Probably inappropriately—but that came with living in a small town. I always gave her an extra-big tip.
I met Lorcan’s gaze.
He swallowed. “I used to come here with my ex.”
“Oh.”
“I need new memories, Cody. I need to reclaim things that once brought me joy.”
I squeezed his hand. “That, I can do.”
“Hey, Cody.”
My gaze snapped up to find…my boss. Well, one of my bosses. “Hi, Jai. How’s it going?”
Behind him, his husband Demetrius and their two kids, Keegan and Alaina, trailed.
Jai gestured for everyone to settle into the booth that was newly vacant. The kids slid into one side while Demetrius took the opposite. Jai sat next to him, but perched a little. “I’m not going to bother you—”
“No bother.” Lorcan released my hand. “I need to run to, well, you know—”
He was up and gone before I could say anything.
I exchanged a glance with Jai.
He arched an eyebrow.
I suggested, “New…”
“That’s fair.” He gave me a warm smile. “I want to see you happy, and you’re practically glowing this morning.”
“It’s warm in here.”
“Tell me about it. We were waiting in the SUV for a table to open up. I spotted you getting in before us.”
I glanced around. “I feel guilty.”
Jai waved me off.
Demetrius laughed at something Keegan said.
The young man had been the reason we’d all met.
He’d attended the summer camp where I’d been the psychologist, and Jai had been the administrator.
Jai and Demetrius had connected—well, reconnected—and by the end of the camp, they’d found a way to make a family.
Quite an interesting contrast. Jai was Indian, Demetrius was Black, and the kids were both white.
They got funny looks, but the group of them were defiant about the family they had.
I admired that.
Still, I eyed Jai. “Don’t you recognize—” I gestured.
He shrugged. “I certainly wasn’t going to say anything. I figure when, and if, you’re ready to share that, you will. Just know I’m happy to talk to him on…that level.”
Pup to pup.
“You’re okay with me telling him?”
Jai laughed. “I was at—” He glanced at the kids.
“Yeah, I remember.” I grinned. My first time seeing my boss in his puppy outfit sitting at Demetrius’s feet had been a shock. In retrospect, the surprise had been more that he was in a club rather than the fact he was a puppy.
“Share whatever you’re comfortable with. Whatever you think he’s open to hearing.”
“You’re a good man, Jai.”
He shrugged. “If you trust him, then I’m good with that.”
“I’ve got your coffees.” Sarabeth put them on our table. “Cream, sugar, and stevia.”
“Thank you.” I grinned.
Jai shuddered. He loathed the sweetener.
I laughed.
Sarabeth turned her attention to the family’s table.
Jai faced them as they all ordered milkshakes.
We should get some to go. That would be fun. Of course, we might also be full at that point. Is the sunrise breakfast enough food for him? God, I have no idea how much he needs to eat. Not that this was my business. I just cared a lot.
I wanted to be the best Daddy I could possibly be.
Arnav and Demetrius were good examples.
I should find some time to talk to them.
Admitting I didn’t know everything wasn’t as hard as it might’ve been for someone else. As a therapist, I’d accepted I could do my best, but that I might not always have the answer.
For now, I’d go with the flow.
Because my heart was already invested.