Page 27 of Polly

“What was that for?” Flynn asked.

“Memories.”

Flynn smiled. “Cool. Send me copies, too, would you?”

She gave him a small smile. “Okay.”

Within a few minutes, the car pulled up to the curb outside a nondescript diner named Lou’s. Flynn slipped their driver a cash tip as they climbed from the car. “Thanks, man,” Polly heard him say.

Together, they stumbled into the building. When they opened the door, the scent of eggs and bacon hit Polly’s nose.

“Hello,” a cheery young server called out to them. “Would you like a table?”

“Yes, please,” Polly responded.

To Polly’s relief, the server seated them at a table toward the back of the restaurant, away from the windows.

Flynn ordered a black coffee and breakfast without looking at the menu. Polly couldn’t help but notice he didn’t have his glasses with him. He acted like a pro, ordering something available at every restaurant, like he already knew the menu. She ordered orange juice and blueberry pancakes. The server left them with reassurances that she would be back with their food soon. She didn’t acknowledge their drunkenness.

Polly laid her hands on the table, then put her chin on them. She looked at Flynn.

“This diner... Good idea,” she said.

“Yeah. I think we...” Hiccup. “...may have had a little much to drink. Need to soak up some of the booze.”

Flynn reached across the table and trailed his fingers down Polly’s cheek. He smiled, and Polly loved that it touched his eyes.

“Beautiful,” he said.

She grinned. “Thank you. You look awesome, too.”

His fingers coiled a strand of her hair, his thumb running over the texture.

Her heart thudded a little faster as he opened his mouth to speak. Right then, the server arrived with their food. Flynn released her hair and sat back.

Polly wasn’t sure what she expected, but disappointment hit her.

A plate of blueberry pancakes and a bottle of maple syrup appeared in front of Polly. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, and bacon appeared before Flynn.

“Thank you,” he said to the server.

“You’re welcome, honey. If you need anything else, let me know.” She flashed them a smile and left.

“Mmm bacon,” Flynn muttered before digging in. They met eyes, and they both snickered.

Polly poured syrup on her pancakes and took a bite. The fluff and blueberry flavor hit her tongue. She washed it down with a sip of orange juice and moaned as the intense flavor exploded in her mouth. Best food ever.

“You like?” Flynn asked.

“Very much.” She nodded. “I’m homeless. I may move in here. I wonder what they’d charge for rent.”

Flynn laughed at her joke, then he grew serious and locked gazes with her.

“What do you mean, homeless?” he asked.

“Oh sorry, I thought I told you. Grady cleared out our house and there’s a for sale sign in the yard. He didn’t even tell me. I tried to go home right before we broke up and the locks are changed. I have to find a new place to live.” She shrugged like Grady’s betrayal hadn’t hurt her.

He shook his head no. “Whoa, what the fuck? That’s insane.” He added ketchup to his plate. “Anyway, you’re not homeless. You can stay with me.”

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