Page 48 of Coach Me
I reach for one plate of waffles and a fruit cup. “I like to put fruit on my waffles.”
While the turning up of the nose I get from Miles isn’t as dramatic as the one he gave Dex, I still get one. “I don’t think I’d like that.”
“Have you tried it?”
“No, but?—”
I cut him off before he can tell himself he knows he doesn’t like it. “Well, I like it. Waffles are better than pancakes, in my opinion. They have these squares that are perfect to keep all the syrup together.”
After dumping my fruit and pouring syrup over my waffle, I watch as Miles looks at the plate in front of me. There’s no way this kid doesn’t want syrup. I get this not-wanting-to-eat attitude is likely stemming from the big changes he’s had in his life lately, but now's the time to work through ’em.
Miles and I both—working through it.
“You know what else I like to do?”
Miles sends his little eyebrow up his forehead. “What?”
“I like to dip my bacon in my syrup.”
“What!” Miles squeals. “That’s crazy!”
My only response is to dip my bacon in my syrup and pop it in my mouth.
Miles giggles as if he can’t possibly believe I would actually do such a thing—and Dex, well, he just watches me with his unshakable, stonewall look on his face.
“It’s good, I promise,” I tell Miles, but when his face scrunches again, I pull out the big guns. “Even Callie thinks so.”
Hook. Line. And sinker.
“She does?”
I nod. “Sure does. You don’t have to dip?—”
“Okay, make me a plate! I mean, make me a plate, please!” Miles turns to Dex, hoping his save came off okay, and finally, the man breaks. Cracks might be a better word for it, but he lets out a small laugh and, dare I say, has a small smile on his handsome face.
“Close. Asking might be a little better with that, please,” Dex says.
“Make—”
“Can,” Dex corrects.
“Can you make me a plate…please?”
“Yes, I can.” Dex reaches for one of the waffles, but then Miles puts his little hand out.
“Actually, can Lucie make my breakfast, and maybe I can watch some shows while I eat?” A beat or two passes, and then Miles adds quickly. “Please!”
An emotion crosses Dex’s face that I can’t quite read, but then he nods. “Alright, let me help you get a show.”
When they walk over to the living room, I get to work on making Miles’s breakfast. I drop a few strawberries and blueberries on his waffle before drizzling some syrup over top. I decide to leave some of the berries in the cup just to be safe, then add a piece of bacon on the side.
I drop his food off on the coffee table just as Dex sets down the remote. “Here we are.”
“Thanks, Lucie! I can’t wait to tell Callie all about my breakfast.”
Yep, I’m going to have to tell Callie that waffles are now her favorite, despite my brother’s specialty being pancakes. Might be the polar opposite of what he asked me to work on, but, eh.
Walking back to the counter, I grab Miles his juice box, then turn to Dex. “I made us some coffee too.”
