Page 20 of Break Away
“I haven’t met Lucy,” Logan commented. “Howold and what breed?”
“Two, and she’s a Bernese Mountain dog. Levihas been trying to corrupt her with junk food.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Sounds about right.Junk food king here.”
“Hey, I don’t eatonlyjunk food. Itjust happens to be convenient.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eatanything that isn’t wrapped in plastic,” Logan responded.
“See.” Zoey turned to Levi. “That’s exactlywhat I said. And plastic is bad for the environment. It’s made fromoil and is killing the ocean.”
“Plastic keeps my Slim Jims fresh.”
She knew he was baiting her but couldn’t keepherself from responding. “I think Slim Jims would survive a nuclearapocalypse.”
Zoey caught the speculative gleam in Logan’seyes at the exchange and thought,uh-oh.First Eva, nowLogan. She didnotwant rumors starting about her andLevi.
“Watch out,” Jack said. “Dory told me I can’tput my sandwich for lunch in a plastic bag anymore, I have to usewaxed paper. And now I’m not supposed to use paper towels, either.I can’t keep up.”
“Good for her, she sounds smart andaware.”
Jack pulled out his phone and checked thetime. “I promised my smart and aware wife I’d be back in time togive the ten-month-old a bath, and this guy has twin terrors to gethome to.”
Logan’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Here’s awarning for you, Zoey, in case you think Uncle Levi is daddymaterial: twins run in families.”
Levi smirked. “Did Maddy ever tell you aboutour grandmother? She and her sister were one of two sets of twinsin that family. That could be you, man. Twins times two.”
“Good god, don’t even say something like thatout loud.” He shook his head as if he were trying to get thethought out of his head. “Anyway, we’re going. Great to see youboth.”
Jack and Logan left the bar, and Levi put hishand to Zoey’s lower back as they walked to a booth.
After they sat, a waiter approached theirtable and took their orders, Levi insisting they share onion ringsas an appetizer.
“You won’t regret it, I guarantee it. Bestonion rings in the world.” Before she could respond, he changedsubject. “So, how did you end up with a Bernese Mountain dog?”
“The usual way. My ex-boyfriend brought meflowers, a puppy, and a spa weekend, all as ‘just-because’ gifts.Since I’m smart and aware, it made me suspicious. I dug a littleand discovered he’d cheated on me with our neighbor.”
“Crap. So Lucy was a sorry-I’m-an-assholegift, huh?”
“Yep. She was a super-cute puppy, so I kepther, and told him to keep his flowers and spa weekend, and to getout.”
“He deserved it.”
“Boy, did he.”
The waiter placed foam-topped glasses of beeron the table, settling the platter of onion rings between them.
“Do onion rings qualify as junk food?” Leviasked.
“Probably, but I’m eating them anyway. Theylook amazing.”
Zoey dipped a golden ring into a small bowlof ranch dressing, bit in, and chewed. “Oh my god.” She dippedagain. “These are fantastic. I could make a meal of just the onionrings.”
Levi tried his own. “Better than a Slim Jim.I’d forgotten how good they are.”
Zoey ate another onion ring, closing her eyesto better savor the flavor. When she opened them, she found Levilooking at her with an intense expression.
“What? Do I have ranch on my chin orsomething?”
