Page 24 of Tiny Fractures

“So, how does it feel to be officially done with high school?” Zack asks Steve and Shane, both of whom were seniors and took their last finals early last week, then walked at graduation Friday night.

“Pretty fucking great,” Steve says with a fervent nod.

Shane laughs. “Feels like freedom,” he says, then walks back to the bar.

Ronan’s break must be over, because at that moment he appears behind the bar counter. He’s also wearing a black shirt, the long sleeves pushed up over his elbows. Shane tells him something, and Ronan’s eyes find our group, then me. A smile tugs at his lips as he grabs something from the counter and walks over to our table.

“Hi Ran!” Vada exclaims. She leans over Steve and wraps her left arm awkwardly around Ronan’s waist to give him a half squeeze-hug.

Ronan rests his left hand on the back of my chair and his knuckles lightly graze my back. It feels like electricity going down my spine. I can’t tell if his physical contact is purposeful or pure accident, but he doesn’t pull back his hand and instead glides his thumb an inch up and down my back.

Nobody notices this momentary physical interaction between us.

“Hey guys. How was the movie?” Ronan asks, and Summer and Zack give a quick critique of the film.

“Would have been nice if you had been able to join us.” Vada looks at me with a smirk. “And then Cat wouldn’t have been so lonely.” She now has a full-blown smile on her face.

“You’re pretty pushy, you know that?” Ronan says, his brows creasing.

“I sure do!” Vada says and folds her arms.

“Okay, so do you guys need to see menus, or do you want the usual?” Ronan offers us a stack of laminated menus.

“Can’t hurt to look.” Steve takes the menus from Ronan’s hand and distributes them around the table. “How’s your day so far? Looks busy!”

“It’s insane,” Ronan says, a slight frown on his face. “I was hoping it would be slow so I can cram for calculus tomorrow, but it doesn’t look like I’ll have much luck.”

“I bet it’s because it’s almost summer break and you have the college students,” Zack says.

“Probably,” Ronan agrees. “College students, and you guys,” he teases, that half smile of his flashing again.

“Whatever, you know you love it when you get to serve us.” Steve elbows his little brother in the side. “That’s sort of the job of a younger sibling. To serve and… well, that’s it.”

Ronan nods slyly. “You know I’m the one handling your food, right?”

“And I would know if you spit in it.”

“Would you, though?” Ronan says, eyebrows raised and his eyes mischievous.

“Do it and I won’t give you a birthday present,” Steve threatens jokingly.

“When have you ever given me a birthday present?”

Everyone is laughing at the brothers’ back-and-forth.

“There’s a first for everything.” Steve shrugs. “Apparently this year is not it.” He exaggeratedly props up his menu, pretending to peruse the selection.

“If you guys are done being dicks to each other, can I order the corned beef hash?” Zack says, fake annoyance in his voice.

“Noted,” Ronan says, looking expectantly around the table.

“Oh, I’ll have the same.” Vada hands her menu to Ronan.

Summer orders a club sandwich, while Steve just asks Ronan to bring him “the usual.”

“How about you, Cat?” Ronan asks. His voice is sexy as he says my name. “Bangers and mash?”

“How did you know?” I ask, confidently returning his gaze.

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