Page 23 of Challenged By You
Lifting my phone up, I use the phone app to take several quick selfies in succession. But when I bring the phone down to unlock it so I can look at them, I notice there’s a text. Frowning, I open my phone and go to my messages.
My heart trips when I read,Only if you keep calling me Jonas. Then we have a deal.
It was sent ten minutes after my last message before I fell asleep.
Chapter 9
Jonas
Itry to clear my head as I turn left on Metropolitan Avenue in Parkchester to make my way to Shecan’s Diner. Apparently from all my local research, this is the place to go to with over 5,000 positive reviews on social media. “How is it all these little gems are tucked away where no one will find them?” I wonder aloud.
“Probably because the locals are afraid of the tourists coming in and ruining the experience?” a familiar voice mocks me. Spinning around, I’m faced with three identical sets of blue eyes. Only two of them are red-rimmed.
“What happened? Is everything okay?” I ask Trina immediately.
Her face softens, and I swear I wish I could paint when I see her nuzzle first Chris, then Annie’s heads. Her face glows with the pride of motherhood despite the fatigue lining her face. “Nothing a teeny, tiny s-h-o-t won’t take care of.” I must be wearing a confused expression because she clarifies, “Double ear infection in this one.” She brushes her lips over Chris’s head before saying, “And this angel has the beginning of one. So, the pediatrician gave her a poke just to prevent it.”
“Poor little things,” I empathize.
Trina smiles. “And the poor doctor, who was kicked not once, but twice in places he shouldn’t have been. His ‘little things’ may take a while to recover. Fortunately,” she continues, as I choke down my laughter, “he assured me he doesn’t need them.”
“Oh, my God. But they look like angels—both of them.”
Trina shakes her arms as she climbs the steps to Shecan’s. Quickly, I follow to grab the door since her arms are full of toddlers. Her head snaps in my direction. “Shit, I didn’t mean to get too much in your personal space? Isodathought I could help you out.” I then clamp my lips together as I realize I both cursed in front of her kids and yet another pun escapes.
But it causes her shoulders to shake. “What are you doing here…Jonas?” The way my name rolls off her lips causes my fingers to clench on the metal handle.
I nod inside before explaining. “Another review. Shecan’s keeps coming up as the best place to eat in the Bronx.”
“No,” she declares resolutely.
Confused, I usher her aside so an elderly couple can exit. “What do you mean, ‘no’? It’s not good?”
“I mean there’s no way I’m going to let you review Shecan’s. It’s bad enough you’re about to ruin the wait time for the best pizza in the area, but if you ruin my capability to occasionally get breakfast at the best diner that I can afford to treat my kids to by telling the world about it, I swear, I’ll…”
Stepping closer, I get close enough to smell the scent of her. Unlike that first day where it was a mix of scents marking her as the professional baker she is, today it’s a mix of baby powder, rose, and jasmine. It smells better than what I know came at me from the kitchen from Seduction, the food being slung not too far behind us. “I’ll make you a deal,” I propose.
“What’s that?” She shifts Chris in her arms.
“First, are you diametrically opposed to company?”
“What do you mean?” Trina’s voice becomes guarded.
“It means I’d enjoy sitting with you. As long as you don’t think it would upset your children. Is that a problem?”
A blush stains her cheeks. “Oh. It’s…I…” Taking a deep breath, she admits, “Actually, Jonas, I’m not sure how the kids will behave in public. I wouldn’t want to ruin your meal by either Chris or Annie…”
Despite not feeling well, Chris hears his name. His little tow head pops up. Recognizing me, he whimpers, “Nono,” and holds out his arms.
I step forward, but before I take him, I ask, “Do you mind?” to his mother.
Chris doesn’t wait for Trina to answer. He launches himself from Trina’s arms into mine. “Whoa, buddy. Warn a guy next time.” I hold him much the same way I hold my cousin’s tanker of a boy—with great care and respect for gravity.
“Nono, I hurt.” Chris snuggles down against me. I rub my hand up and down his back. A squeak gets my attention. Trina’s eyes are round, but she’s not angry.
She’s shocked but doesn’t have a chance to say anything as the hostess plucks two menus and four place mats. “I have a corner table available, but it might be tight,” she warns us, not even for a second presuming we’re not together.
Helplessly, Trina glances at me as I gesture for her to follow the waitress. Soon we’re packed into the corner booth which is almost a two-seater with just enough room in the front for two high chairs. “Why don’t you have a stroller?” I ask her as she settles Annie in.
