Page 25 of Reaper
“Who’s that?” Reaper demands, brushing past me.
“Sure, c’mon in.”
I close the door and turn around to see Reaper standing in the entry to the kitchen, staring, no doubt, at Jason.
“Reaper, that’s Jason,” I say when I step around him. “Jason, this is Reaper. He’s one of the guys who helped get Night and Day back in order. And they are Heidi and Hunter,” I introduce, pointing to the kids.
“I remember you,” Hunter says, his mouth full of green beans.
“You went on the adventure with Mommy,” Heidi adds, her manners a little better than her brother’s.
Reaper grins. “I did,” he confirms. “It was quite an adventure, that’s for sure.”
“Did you need something, my man?” Jason asks, his tone rude. “As you can see, we’re kinda busy here.”
“Right. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Reaper looks at me. “I just wanted to talk to you about the diner. But you can call me la?—”
“You can stay,” Heidi says simply. “Mommy made lots so there’s enough for you.”
“I’m sure Reaper’s a busy man,” Jason states, looking pointedly at the other man. “Aren’t you?”
“Actually, not really.” Reaper smiles at Heidi. “Thanks for the invitation.”
I guess I have no say in what goes on in my own house.
“I mean, if it’s okay with your mom, of course,” Reaper tacks on, invading my thoughts.
Jason glares at me, clearly wanting me to say no, which gives me the only reason I need to say yes.
“I don’t mind at all.” I walk past the table, nodding at the empty chair. “Have a seat, and I’ll get you a plate.”
“Thanks, Kyra. I appreciate it.”
Attention shifts to Reaper and ouradventureas the twins pepper him with questions. He makes the entire event sound more exciting than Barry or I did, and they’re so caught up in his storytelling that Jason might as well not exist.
For the next hour, I watch how enthralled Heidi and Hunter are, how good Reaper is with them, and the walls I’ve carefully built around my little family start to crack. And then Jason opens his mouth.
“Look, you said you wanted to talk to Kyra about the diner,” he says. “But I think you should talk to me instead.”
I whip my head in his direction. “Excuse me?”
“I am half-owner.”
“You mean youwerehalf-owner,” I remind him.
“I don’t recall signing anything over to you.”
My vision blurs, and my blood boils. “Heidi, Hunter, why don’t you two go to your room and play before bath time?”
“But I’m still ea?—”
“Go,” I insist, earning a frown from my baby girl.
The two of them carry their plates to the kitchen and set them on the counter before walking to their room, grumbling the entire time about how life isn’t fair.
Reaper stands. “Uh, maybe I should get going.”
“No,” I snap. “You shouldn’t.”
