Page 37 of Books and Hookups

I made sure there was enough glassware in both sections of the bar and took out the trash. As I washed my hands in the breakroom, Leo presented me with a sack containing two to-go boxes. “Ta-da.”

“What is it?” I started to pry open the box on top.

Leo put his hand over the top. “No peeking. Just take it to your lady love.”

“She’s not my ‘lady love,’” I protested.

“Fine. Your baby mama and neighbor-with-benefits situationship.”

I didn’t correct him about the benefits situation with Lucie. That part of our relationship was, if not completely over, at least on a break while she figured stuff out.

“Thanks for this,” I said. “I’ll be back to close.”

“Sure you will.”

What the fuck was it with people? I always followed through on my promises. I’d figure out how to buy the bar andsupport Lucie and our child. I always found a way.

Upstairs, I tapped on Lucie’s door. “Hey, Lucie, it’s Danny.”

When she opened the door, her computer screen was the only light on in the place. She wore fuzzy socks, leggings, and an oversized sweatshirt. She had on a pair of glasses that made her eyes look extra big, and she blinked up at me. “What are you doing here?”

“I brought you dinner.” I held up the sack. “Have you eaten?”

Her stomach rumbled, and she stepped aside to let me in.

I flicked on a light in the entry and walked into the kitchen, where I turned on more lights. I washed my hands, then hunted in her cabinets until I found a couple of plates and some utensils.

“Why don’t you make yourself at home,” she said wryly.

“Are you drinking enough water?”

She walked to her desk and carried back an almost-full glass of water.

“Good effort,” I said. “Be sure you drink that with dinner.” I opened the containers. The top one held two chicken breasts nestled into pasta with Leo’s special spinach pesto. The bottom one held a salad. How had he found greens and raw veggies in Norm’s kitchen? Leo was a culinary magician.

I divided the salad, pasta, and chicken between two plates and carried it to her table. Then I pulled out her chair. “Come sit. Leo made the food, so I’m sure it’s good.”

She sank into the chair, and I scooted her closer to the table. I went to get myself a glass, filled it from the tap, and joined her across the table.

Lucie already had a mouthful of food.

“How is it?”

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling as she chewed and swallowed. “You’re wasting him in that bar, you know. He should run a restaurant.”

My shoulders crept up toward my ears.

Deliberately, I lowered them. “He wants to run the bar with me. And he made this downstairs. He and Norm could work something out.”

She raised her eyebrows and took a bite of pesto-coated chicken.

“Maybe we can coax Norm into early retirement,” I said.

She didn’t dignify that with an answer but dug into her dinner. When our plates were clean, we cleared the table.

“You can go back to work.” I plugged the sink and started filling it. “I’ll clean up.”

“Really?” She tipped her head to the side. “Okay.” She padded back to her desk.

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