She takes my order and gives it to one of the cooks. She goes around and checks on her tables before she comes right back over toward me. I guess you can get away with that when you and your husband own the place.
“I heard that you were kissing that guy Shaw.” I turn red because a few people turn and look our way. “Come on, spill it.” She pokes my hip.
“How do you know about that? Was it Missy?” She’s becoming a real pain.
“Like I’d listen to anything she has to say.” Amelia rolls her eyes. “A few of the local cops were here this morning.” Now it’s me that rolls my eyes. “Don’t get mad. Once you get to know more people around here, you’ll enjoy the small-town shenanigans.” She might be right. I think it’s because I still feel like an outsider.
“Yes, I’m seeing Shaw,” I admit. She can spread that around all she wants.
“You just killed a few dreams around town.” She lets out a long sigh as if she was harboring some of her own.
“I’m going to tell your husband on you.”
She shrugs, not looking worried at all. “Have at it.” Her voice drops. “He fucks me extra hard when he gets jealous.” She laughs before she winks at me.
“Amelia, get your fine ass over here.” We both look to her husband, who is pushing my to-go boxes out the window. I can tell from the look in his eyes he probably heard everything. My face warms more, wondering who else might have heard. Amelia grabs the to-go boxes and puts them into a bag before bringing them over to me along with Kayla’s shake.
“I better get back to it before they burn this place down.” She pulls out her pad to take more orders. With not many places to eat in town, they’re always busy. I wave goodbye before heading back toward my shop. My mind drifts to Shaw and what he might be up to. I wonder if he told his mom about me because they seem close.
I pull out my phone to check and see if he’s sent a text, but there’s nothing.
What’s the text protocol when you first start dating someone? In the books I’ve read the hero would have put a tracker on my phone already. In reality, that should be scary but I find myself disappointed that I don’t have a single text from him. I put my phone away, stealing a sip of Kayla’s shake. He’s busy and he’ll probably be by later. I tell myself this and wonder if I can make it that long before I start to let doubt creep back in.
Chapter Eight
Shaw
“Who is she?” my mother asks as I place the bag of books on her bedside table.
I sigh, sitting in the chair that’s beside her bed and stretching my legs out. I don’t respond but raise an eyebrow at her and we both know I’m not going to tell.
“You know, you used to tell me all your secrets,” she huffs, like she’s offended.
“I was four.”
“I liked you more then.” She crosses her arms over her chest and looks away from me, but I see the smile pull at her lips.
“Her name is Barbara.”
She gasps and whips around to look at me with wide eyes. “The woman that owns the bookstore? Do you think you can get me a discount?”
“You’re shameless, you know that?”
She shrugs as one of her nurses comes in to check her vitals and lay out her meds. We make small talk in the meantime and they go over her stats.
My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago. It was sudden and rapid, but she’s a fighter. Luckily they found it early, but going through the treatments made her weak. She’s been slowly building back strength and some days I think she’s back to her old self. Today is a physical therapy day, and although she likes to flirt with her instructor, she’s getting there little by little.
“You ready to stretch those legs, Mrs. Cora?” Dwayne asks.
“You know if you want in my pants you could be a little more subtle,” she coos as she moves to the edge of the bed.
“Mom,” I scold but she just ignores me.
“Kids really put a damper on your sex like. I really should have thought about that sooner.”
“Mom!”
“I’m kidding.” She looks at me and then winks. “Kind of.”
I watch her and Dwayne go through their normal workout and I see the progress she’s made. She might be older, but my mom is far from down for the count.
Ignoring her fresh comments to the male nurse, I think about what Barbie might be up to. I had to leave her earlier to finish up a few things on a job site and then come by and check on Mom. I’ve been living in this house since I moved back home to be with her, but now I’m thinking I should have gotten my own place.