Page 20 of Mother Parker
We need to see this Carson dude!
You look so cute??
“Thanks, guys! And no. Carson is not a date. He’s a friend. A very good friend. He used to be my boss at the restaurant I was working at before, but he’s a little camera shy, so he’s always stayed out of my vids.”
I opened the door to the shop and instantly felt something was wrong.
The shop was breezy.
“Hang on, guys. Something’s wrong with the café.”
I walked to the counter and approached the front as the comment section on my live went nuts with concern and questions.
“I guess this is why it’s so cold in here,” I said and pointed the camera at the front door.
The front door's glass had been smashed with a large rock lying a few feet away from it on the inside.
I walked closer to it, my boots crunching the broken glass, as Carson appeared on the other side with a bewildered look that probably matched my own.
“What the hell happened?” he asked.
I shrugged, unable to say anything before I realized the live was still going, and they were all getting a good look at Carson.
“Sorry, guys. I’ll have to cut this live short to deal with this,” I said and turned off the stream. “When did you get here?”
Carson leaned in through the broken glass to inspect the damage.
“Just now,” he said.
“Did…did you see anyone?” The airflow to my chest was getting more constricted with every passing second.
“No. No one.”
“Hey, Hwan. Whoa! What the hell?” someone asked from behind Carson, and we both turned to look at Asher Ford.
“Ash! You’re back!” I exclaimed and unlocked the door to get out and hug the man.
“Yeah, came back on Friday. Sorry I didn’t stop by before. Maddie told me your shop is up and running,” he said.
Ash was a Navy SEAL—just like his boyfriend, Maddox—but I had no idea he’d be back so soon. Maddox had been looking forward to Ash’s next break so he could spend some time with him.
“Well, it’s up, but I guess not running,” I said, pointing at the mess behind me.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I just came down to meet Carson and found it like this. I guess someone was upset that I closed early,” I said with a laugh.
Ash’s gaze narrowed as he checked the door.
“That’s not good, Hwan,” he said.
“Ah, it’s okay. I needed a new door anyway,” I told him before I turned to Carson. “Well, I guess I have to take a rain check on dinner and deal with this.”
“I’ll stay and help,” he said.
“It’s okay. I can deal with it. Really. Why don’t you go out and get to know each other? Ash, this is Carson. He owns Carson’s Grill on Main Street. Carson, this is Ash, Maddox’s boyfriend.”
“We can stay and help, Hwan,” Ash said, but I insisted.
