Page 31 of The Switch: A Friends To Lovers Romance

He winced and answered delicately. “Because you have no children?”

“Because you remind me of myself. Grand ambitions are good, but true happiness is found in quiet moments. An empty plate. A glass licked clean. A sigh of contentment. This is the music of our souls.”

Luke stared at his uncle, certain he’d been abducted by aliens and replaced with a clone. Eddie had never spoken so many words all at once. Neither had he struck Luke as the poetic type.

Eddie got up from the table. “Don’t be late again.”

“Yes, sir.” He licked his lips and leaned forward with a smile. “This means you’re on my side. Right?”

Eddie just sighed and limped away.

Luke changed the sign on the door and headed behind the counter, a huge grin on his face. The smile remained for the rest of the day and as he locked up that night.

Eddie met him on the sidewalk outside. The moonlight was a luminescent circle in the dark velvet sky. A slight breeze blew, ruffling their clothes. Luke shuffled his feet, sensing that his uncle had something more to say.

“I’ll talk to your mother. For now, tell no one of your relationship. It will only infuriate her more.”

“Yes, sir.”

Eddie nodded and limped to his car.

“Good night, Uncle!” Luke finished off his greeting with a deep bow.

Eddie flung his hand in a wave.

When his uncle had driven away, Luke grabbed his cell phone and called Ashanti. She picked up on the third ring. He didn’t give her a chance to say ‘hello’ and blurted, “I got my job back.”

“What?” she shrieked.

“Apparently, Uncle Eddie had a girlfriend the family didn’t approve of either.” He bounced his keys as he trotted to his car. “He only fired me yesterday to see if I would give in under pressure. When I didn’t, he offered to support my cause.”

“That’s great, Luke. Really.”

There was something in Ashanti’s voice that gave him pause. He tilted his head to the side. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

He didn’t buy it but he’d have an opportunity to see her in person soon enough. “Are you home?” Luke climbed into his car. “I’ll pick you up now.”

“No!”

He froze, his hand on the keys in the ignition. “Why? Are you busy? You didn’t forget about me tonight, did you?”

“I’m coming. It’s just… give me the directions. I’ll drive instead.”

“What for? I don’t mind coming to get you. We can go together.”

“You can’t because that will ruin the surprise.”

“What surprise?”

“You’ll find out soon.”

Luke gave Ashanti directions and then drove to the bar. Instead of going inside immediately, he waited on the curb until he recognized Ashanti’s car pulling up.

Curious to see what her big surprise was, he clamored out of his car and jogged over to her vehicle. The passenger door popped open and a woman stepped out.

Luke’s heart stuttered. “Michelle?”

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