Page 7 of Other Side Of Never
She began to protest further but knowing where she was going, I cut her off.“I’ll know when It’s time to move on.”
Perhaps I’d start putting out some feelers.
She grunted, satisfied with my reply.
“Have we been busy?”
She sat down in the chair, something she’d been doing increasingly often.“Just beginning to pick up now.”She quirked a brow and looked at her watch.“You good to handle things if I head out in a bit?”
I nodded.“No problem.”
She heaved herself up.“Right.Going to fix the shelf and head home.”
“You need help?”
She waved me away.“I got it.”
On my next pass from the kitchen, I noticed Kian and Isaiah seating themselves at their usual table.Since we met at Mary Lou’s, whenever possible, I sat them in my section.Looked like I’d trained them well because when they came in now, they headed there immediately.
Kian had yet to take me up on my offer and call me.
I no longer expected it, but I let myself enjoy him and sweet, sunny Isaiah whenever they came to Susie Q’s on my shift.
I walked over with a smile on my face.It was bigger than it should have been to be considered strictly polite, but I couldn’t have muted it if I tried.“How are my favorite guys?”
I sounded just like Susie.Which was good because Kian wouldn’t read anything into my words.He had no way of knowing just how true it was.
“Today was the last day of school,” Isaiah informed me with a wide grin, his eyes bright.
“Yeah?Congratulations, Ace!”
“Yup!”He nodded, his brow furrowing.“My name is Isaiah.”
“Ace is a nickname.It just means you’re number one.”
His face lit up then immediately fell.“I’m going to be under dad’s feet all summer.”
Kian groaned.“That’s not exactly what I said.”
Isaiah frowned.“You said,” he lowered his voice in imitation of his dad, “we can’t have you stuck under my feet all summer.”
Kian raised his eyebrows in supplication.“Completely different connotation, right?”
“Right,” I grinned.“Have you inquired at the resort and the rec center?I think they host a summer camp for several weeks in the summer.”
He nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing in consideration before meeting mine.“I’ll look into it.Thank you.Usually, my mom looks after all of this for me.”He shrugged and offered a small smile.“It kind of escaped me.”
I smiled back.
I’d do so much more for him if I could, but he seemed to distance himself on purpose.
Isaiah piped up.“Dad said we’d come to Susie Q’s to celebrate.”He tilted his head to the side then added conspiratorially, “We celebrate at Susie Q’s a lot.”
I huffed out a laugh.
Kian rubbed a rough hand over his hair and scrunched his nose.Hazel eyes twinkling, his face the barest shade of pink, he grinned up at me ruefully.“He doesn’t let me get away with anything.”
Isaiah laughed, his eyes lighting up as he looked up at his dad.“Like Mom, right Dad?You said I’m just like Mom!”
