Harleigh offered some snacks to the guys, and they all settled in around the living room to hang out with us and play with the children. The baby woke up, and Desiree went to get him, nestling him into Brett’s arms with a kiss. We all hung out for another couple of hours before I decided it was about time for me to be getting home.
As I was saying my goodbyes, Carter walked up to me.
“I can send you the job listing to look over if you really want a new job,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m fine. I’ve been working at the diner for a really long time, and I finally got promoted to manager. I complain about it, but I think I’m just going to stick it out. I appreciate it, though.”
“Alright. Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”
7
CARTER
What Harleigh said about Lauren’s ex was bugging me. I wanted to do something or say something to help her out, but she seemed pretty resistant to it. Even mentioning that the boys and I could come down and conveniently “have lunch” at the same time seemed not to get the kind of response I had hoped for.
I couldn’t deny the chemistry between us or the thoughts I had about her. It wasn’t like I was trying to, really. But she didn’t seem to be in a place where that was an option, and with all the stuff with her ex, I could understand. I wondered if maybe it would be best if I just showed up for lunch anyway.
Of course, if I did that by myself, it would look bad. But if it just so happened that the boys and I went for lunch, maybe that wouldn’t look so much like I was trying to keep an eye on this guy and make sure she was safe.
“Carter, what’s up?” Everett said as he answered the phone a few minutes later.
“Hunger, that’s what,” I said. “You fellas already do lunch?”
“No, actually,” Everett said. “We needed to go down into town and pick up some stuff for the cabin. We were thinking of grabbing something while we were down there.”
“Awesome. Meet me at Dina’s,” I said.
A half hour later, I pulled into the diner just ahead of Everett’s truck. Deacon hopped out beside me as we parked with a giant grin on his face. I shut my car door and walked over to open the diner door for them.
“What are you smiling at?” I asked as Deacon passed me.
“He’s just excited for pancakes,” Everett said.
“I don’t understand why places don’t do breakfast all day,” Deacon said as we made our way inside. I saw Lauren taking an order and guided the guys that way, picking a seat near the window in her section.
“Because not everyone serves breakfast,” Everett said. “Not everyone wants pancakes with every damn meal, Deacon.”
“Those people are wrong,” Deacon said.
“I tend to agree,” I put in. “Breakfast food is the best food.”
“Steak,” Everett said, taking his seat. “Steak is better than eggs. Sorry.”
“You know you can have steak and eggs, right?” Deacon said. “It’s like a staple breakfast item. Look, it’s even on the menu here under ‘Breakfast.’”
“He’s got you there,” I said, chuckling.
“Whatever,” Everett said, clearly giving in. “I’m just hungry. At this point, I don’t care if it’s pancakes or tacos. I just want food.”
I scanned the rest of the restaurant, looking for Lauren’s ex. The only single guys in the diner were old men, who I didn’t think fit the bill at all. Otherwise, it was a couple of families, another group of what looked like construction workers in another section, a table with three older ladies chattering away.
“I told you that you didn’t have to come down here,” Lauren said as a way of greeting when she got to the table. I put my hands in the air in innocence.
“That’s not why I’m here,” I said. “We just were going to get lunch, and Deacon wanted pancakes. Honest.”
“Uh-huh,” Lauren said.
“What? We’re here to eat,” I said. “If your ex happens to show up, then we might be able to have a conversation about that, also.”
“You really don’t have to do that,” she said, her cheeks glowing red.
“It’s no big deal,” I said. “Is it, boys?”
“Nope,” Everett said.
“Not for me,” Deacon said. “As long as I get pancakes, I can talk to anybody.”
Her eyes seemed to trail something outside. I followed her gaze to see a man walking into the diner, opening the door and then scanning the floor until he met eyes with Lauren. “Shit,” she muttered.
“That him?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Yeah, that’s him.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” I said. “You just do what you need to do.”
“Coffee?” she asked suddenly, a big fake smile spreading on her face.
“Yes, please,” Deacon said. Everett and I nodded as she looked at us before she walked away. She had to walk right by the place where her ex was standing, and as she passed him, he grabbed her hand to stop her.