Page 87 of All We Need

She kisses the tips of her fingers and blows me a kiss. “Notouching,Chef.”

When she disappears into the bitterJanuarymorning,Ibring the discardedT-shirt to my nose, inhaling her lavender and sage scent, triggering a wild obsession that refuses to be reined in.

Collapsing back into my seat,Ipat my belly, filled to the brim with ten slices of cheesy goodness.

Harry eyes my empty pizza box and her half-eaten pie. “Wheredo you put all that food?It’snot normal.”

I blot my mouth with a napkin and shrug. “I’ma growing boy.”

“Idiot.”Shelaughs.

Dough is a small pizzeria in town, with only a handful of tables.HarrietandIhave been coming here since we were teens.It’sactually where we went on our first date.Thinkingback to those two gangly teenagers, awkwardly sharing a pepperoni slice, makes me chuckle.

Closing the lid, she leans forward, her voice just above a murmur. “So…how’s it going withAly?”

My lips quiver, a smile threatening to emerge at the mention of her name. “Hmm,Ipresume she’s good.Whydo you ask?”

A wad of napkins hits me in the face. “Don’tplay coy with me.Isaw you two sneak into the supply closet.Nowspill.”

“There’s nothing to say.”

“You’re telling me nothing is happening?”Shestares at me dubiously.

I beckon her closer and keep my voice low. “Iswore to herI’dkeep it quiet.It’scasual, so don’t get ex?—”

“Ah-ha!” she shouts and slaps a palm to the table, gaining the attention of the staff behind the counter. “Iknew it!”

“—cited,”Ifinish flatly. “Seriously,Harry, don’t tell anyone.Oursiblings have some clue, but it’s only while she’s in town.Afterthat we’re…ending things.”

Aly has just begun opening up, so the mention ofthe endsits heavy and sour in my stomach.

Then a wayward thought assaults me.Itfeels like betrayal talking aboutAlybehind her back, but something has been niggling in my head sinceChristmas.Againstmy better judgment,Ilook toHarrietto fill in the blanks.

“Hey,Ihave a question,”Ibegin.

She points at me. “Don’tthink we’re not looping back to your friends-with-benefits arrangement.Shoot.”

“OnChristmasDay, did you hear whatAlyandMartinwere discussing before she left the room?”

She blinks in surprise. “Oh.Yeah.Itwas a little awkward between them.”Hermouth twists. “Alywas asking about his family.Orhis son, specifically.”

“His son?”Isearch my brain for any recollection of him having a family. “WasMartinmarried?”

Nodding, she sips her soda. “Yeah, but it ended before we were born.Hisson is closer to our parents’ age.Ithink he married and had a kid young, butIremember my dad talking about him once.HesaidMartinwas a different person before his wife and kid leftSuttonBay.FromwhatIgather, he saw little of them after that.”

“Wow.Inever knew.”Itilt my head. “Butwhy was their conversation awkward?”

“Maybe not awkward, butAlyseemed really adamant on knowing whether he visited his son.Thensuddenly, she was excusing herself and disappeared.Ihadn’t thought about it much until now.Whydo you ask?”

Debating how to word this,Idrag a hand through my hair before responding. “Sheseemed…spooked.Whichisn’t like her.”Itake inHarriet’ssmug face. “Shutup.”

Harriet waves down our server for the bill whileIreplay every interactionI’vewitnessed betweenAlyandMartin.Herstiff posture, pinched face, tense words.

Martin seemed unaffected.Whichis his usual look.Hisrelationship with his estranged family could explain his somber temperament and sad eyes.

A chill runs through me.

Martin’s sad,grayeyes.

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