Page 25 of Mike's Assistant

Oh shit. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. She wanted me to eat with him? Damn it. How could I refuse? I hesitated, words stuck in my throat, and finally gave a slight nod. “I…I don’t mind. If it’s okay with Mike.”

Before Mike could respond, Linda jumped in, her voice dripping with mirth. “Of course, Michael doesn't mind. Sit down, dear. I'll fetch your coffee and give you a minute to decide on food. I'll get the orders when I return.” Her eyes flicked to the boys, who were openly gawking at Mike. “Orange juice for the young gentlemen?”

Both Sam and Abel nodded in unison.

“Great,” she said. “I’ll be back with your coffee. Coffee for you, sweetie?”

Feeling increasingly flustered, especially as Mike took the seat beside me, I managed a nod. "Coffee, please."

Linda quickly turned and hurried away. I glanced at Mike, nervously shifting in my seat, and looked back at the boys. They both stared at Mike. Sam squinted his eyes as if to really examine him, while Abel simply pursed his lips. I wanted to laugh at their antics.

Abel was the first to break the silence. “Who's this?” He asked plainly.

“This is my boss, Mike,” I explained, giving Mike a brief glance. “Mike, these are my brothers, Sam and Abel,” I replied, pointing to each of my brothers in turn.

Mike offered a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you both. Are you having a fun Saturday with your brother? I bet your parents are enjoying some quiet time at home.”

The atmosphere around our table suddenly changed. I could feel the tension at the weight of Mike's innocent words. Sam and Abel’s eyes widened, and a shadow passed over their faces. Mike had unintentionally mentioned the one verboten word, ‘parents.’

Reacting swiftly, I slid over to the boys' side of the booth, wrapping Abel into a comforting embrace. “Hey, it’s okay. We're together now," I whispered, feeling him clutch at my shirt. I knew he was ready to burst and had to distract him.

“Sam,” I urged gently, “hand Scruffy to Abel.” I hoped that the familiarity of his stuffed lion would bring him some solace. “Abel, Scruffy's here. Remember our promise? When he's around, there's no reason to be sad, okay?”

Abel sniffled but nodded and quickly grabbed hold of Scruffy. I peered up at Mike, who wore a surprised and concerned expression.

I wasn’t ready to explain. Not yet. And luckily, I didn't have to, as Linda returned with our drinks, shifting the focus of the moment.

Once Linda had taken our orders, the table’s atmosphere transformed. The weight of earlier emotions lifted, replaced by light-hearted banter and laughter. Mike, ever the charmer, even ordered a plate of Mickey Mouse pancakes for himself. His playful pout when Linda teased him about the choice had both Sam and Abel in fits of laughter. Watching Mike effortlessly bond with the boys warmed my heart. Yet, every time I felt drawn into the moment, a nagging thought would pull me back—Vanessa. Mike was with Vanessa. The kiss we shared, no matter how intoxicating, was a mistake.

“I had planned on calling you today,” Mike said, catching me mid-bite.

“You were? Is everything okay?” My fork clinked against the plate as I set it down, anxiety clear in my voice. Was he about to fire me? Why did he want to call?

Mike nodded. “I wanted to clear the air. After our encounter, you left in such a hurry, and while I admit I acted impulsively, there are things you need to know.”

I cleared my throat and sat straight. “What things?”

The boys were engrossed in their coloring, allowing us the privacy of our conversation.

Mike nodded again. “First, while I may have been impulsive kissing you, I don’t regret it. I like you, Jake. I like you a lot. And I think you may like me, too.”

“But Vanessa,” I interjected.

Mike held up a hand, silencing me. “That’s the second thing. Vanessa and I were never truly together. Yes, we had a casual thing, but nothing more. We were both looking for something, someone more.” He paused and stared, locking his eyes with mine. “I was looking for you.”

I took a deep breath, processing his words. They felt genuine. Deep down, I knew they were.

“I’m relieved you weren’t unfaithful. But I…. Mike, you’re my boss. I need this job.” I leaned forward and whispered. “I’m all my brothers have. Our parents… they died three weeks ago, on Christmas Eve. As much as I might want something more with you, I have to think about them.”

“How’s everything?” Linda breezed in, shattering the tension.

I leaned back and pushed my plate away. “It was great. Thank you.”

Mike stared at me for another moment before turning to Linda. “It was fantastic, as always. Thank you.”

“Wonderful. Now, since you’re the boss, the bill naturally finds its way to you,” Linda said with a giggle, before placing the paper in front of Mike.

“I—”

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