“Do I look like someone capable of eating this?”
Gideon laughed. He picked up his burger and took a bite, slopping chili out the side and onto the plate. Megs wrapped her hands around the burger as if approaching a feral dog, then squeezed the buns together in an attempt to make it fit into her mouth.
“You can’t watch me.” She grimaced and picked it up.
“Oh, I’m going to watch you.” Gideon swiped a napkin across his lips.
Megs looked affronted, but when he didn’t back down, she swallowed her pride and shoved the burger into her mouth. Bacon grease dripped down her chin, and barbecue sauce squeezed onto her fingers. Gideon took another bite to make sure they stayed at the same level of disgusting.
“So?” he asked with his mouth full.
Megs grinned, trying to chew without letting her mouth gape open. She swallowed, then looked from the burger in her hands to Gideon, and then back again. “I owe you an apology.”
Gideon chuckled and took a drink of his soda. “Good, right?”
Megs didn’t answer, just leaned in for another bite. Her eyes sparkled, and Gideon felt the tightness in his chest ease from earlier. Yes, he’d quite possibly ruined her night at Champlain, but he’d put this expression on her face, too.
The conversation took a pause as they finished their burgers—Megs ate more than half, and Gideon gave the appropriate amount of praise—then resumed as they worked on their garlic fries and drinks.
“Even the shake is good.” Megs sighed as she took a drink.
“Everything here is good.” He tried to hide his pleasure at her reaction to the food but wasn’t very successful. Bringing someone new here was a risk for obvious reasons. He was thrilled the choice had paid off with Megs.
“How have I not heard about this place? I grew up in Sugar Creek. It’s not that far.” She grabbed another fry.
Gideon leaned back in his seat. “But why would you come up unless you had a good reason?”
“Fair.” Megs sighed. “If only I still had a class to attend so I could visit again.”
Gideon took a drink and set his cup on the table. “Do you think you could talk to someone? Maybe they’d make an exception?”
“Doesn’t seem like showing up and talking to people is working well for me at the moment.” She flicked her eyes to his, and Gideon felt her silent judgment.
“Maybe you’ll find someone who’s not quite as stubborn as me.”
Megs laughed and took a drink of her shake, then glanced at her watch. She sighed. “I think I better head home. I have an early shift tomorrow.”
“Coffee shop?”
She nodded. “You going to come visit me there again?”
“Why would anyone go to Sugar Creek unless they had a reason?” he teased, and Megs raised an eyebrow in challenge.
“Whatwasyour reason, anyway? I know it wasn’t the coffee.”
Gideon organized the trash on his tray and stood. “I was meeting with the high school principal. Champlain is working on setting up a relationship there for juniors and seniors.”
“You’re in charge of that?” Megs followed him to the trash cans.
“No, but they’re looking to add in some classes that aren’t only core subjects. She wanted to discuss the possibility of me coming out to teach there once a week. Next year, not anytime soon.”
Megs gave a satisfied smirk. “Because you’re teaching something sexy.”
Gideon laughed and slid his trash off the tray. “Because anything that’s not Calculus is exciting to high schoolers.”
Megs cleared her tray and set it on the stack, then strode past him toward the door. Gideon took a step, and Megs lurched forward, catching herself on the back of a neighboring booth.
Gideon looked down to find his foot firmly planted on the sole of a torn-up sandal.
