“Don’t do that.” He kissed my cheek. “Don’t be hesitant with me, because all I want is you.”
Right then, little Miss Peppy Server set the coffees on the table, my milk in a small container on the side.
“Did you know what you want?” she said, still focusing on Drew.
“We didn’t even look yet. What do you recommend?”
“The special is crepes. They’re filled with Chantilly crème and topped with fresh raspberries. It’s divine.” This declaration brought her tongue out, and she licked her lips, making me wonder if this was a porno or a diner. “Today’s sausage is organic apple-spiced chicken. My personal favorite is the sweet potato pancakes with cranberry-apple compote.”
“Great. Bring us the special and potato pancakes to start.”
“Be back,” she said, and left us.
“I could’ve ordered for myself.”
“I know, but I wanted her gone.”
I poured some milk into my mug and took a sip of the coffee, the liquid warming my throat and lifting my mood.
“I’m going to win you back.”
Drew reached out and his hand covered mine. I watched the veins flex and the hair on his forearm like they were Beyoncé in the halftime show during the Super Bowl. I didn’t want to take my eyes away for a second.
“Who said I’m a prize to win?” I spoke without lifting my gaze, and of course, he tilted my chin up with his finger.
“You’re not just the prize. You’re everything, and I want it. I want you and my daughter. All of us, together.”
“I can’t.”
“Don’t say that. You can, and you will.”
As he ran his lips along my cheek, a faint reminder of how much he drank the night before wafted from his pores and mixed with the mint.
“God, I want you so bad,” he mumbled.
“It’s not like that now. I have a daughter.” My standard line seemed wrong in this moment; not that I’d used it a lot.
“Wehave a daughter.”
I sealed my eyes shut and allowed every thought, every concern about Darla to wash over me. “I’m such an idiot. How will I tell her who you are? I’ve fucked this up beyond repair.”
“Nothing is beyond repair, especially us.”
He squeezed my hand, and I wanted to believe him.
“Here you go.”
The server was back with two plates. The air around us filled with sweet aromas, reminding me I was famished.
Drew stopped the server as she was walking away. “Oh, can I get an order of the sausage for myself?” Turning to me, he said, “I didn’t want it to touch your crepe. The meat.”
Why did he have to be so thoughtful?
“Not necessary, but thanks.” I picked up my fork and took a bite of crepe and raspberry, moaning as the crème made its way around my mouth.
“Wish you were doing that for me.”
Raising an eyebrow at him, I said, “You’re really into the cheesy now.”
