I take another bite, almost moaning at how good it tastes. I’m not sure what she does differently from Austin, but I can’t wait to get back to his place so I can tell him how wrong he was.
Actually… I pull my phone out of my pocket and snap a photo of my half-eaten soup and grilled cheese, then send the photo to Austin. I don’t know how busy he is, or if he’ll even be able to respond, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate knowing that I got out of the house and did something.
A few minutes later, he responds.
Austin
Oh how dare you. I’m so jealous.
Me
Why are you jealous? You make them just as good, right?
Austin
You know damn well I was full of shit. No one makes a grilled cheese like Ma. I’d ask you to bring one home for me, but it’ll be gross by the time I get done today.
Me
Poor you.
I exit out of my messages and shove my phone back into my pocket, then go back to eating. I might have to come back againtomorrow and get another sandwich, and I haven’t even finished this one yet.
My phone starts ringing, and my heart drops. But then I remember there’s no way Damien knows my phone number. I take a second to collect myself, then pull it back out of my pocket, smiling when I see Austin’s name flashing across the screen.
“Hello?”
“You can’t just say, ‘Poor you,’ and then nothing else. I’m glad you got out of the house.”
I know he is. He’s only told me about ten times that he’s worried about me. Every day that he’s gone to work, he’s shaken his keys around before hanging them up, showing me where they are and making sure I know I can go anywhere I want. “I was hungry and tired of watchingMasterChef. Your mom was happy to see me,” I whisper, glancing over to where she’s talking to Burt, a man who looked like he was on death’s door when I still lived here ten years ago. He looks even closer to it now.
Austin hums. “I’m sure she was. It’s been killing me not to tell her.”
My stomach twists. “I’m sorry I made you lie to her.”
“Nah, it’s not like that, Luc. I just knew she’d be excited to see you.”
Deb walks away from Burt, carrying his plate. “She was. She gave me a huge hug and made me cry.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah. It was just awow, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a hug from a momcry. No big deal.”
Burt wipes his mouth with his napkin, then stands, dropping a five-dollar bill on the table before walking toward the front door. When he looks up, he sees me, and recognition lights up his face. “Well, little Luca Pierce. I ain’t seen you in years, kid.”
I smile. “No, I’ve been living in Cincinnati, but I’m home now.”
He nods, bracing himself on the back of the booth across from me. “We were real sorry to hear about your parents. You getting along okay?”
“Thank you. I am, yeah.”
“You gonna be in town a while?”
Am I? I don’t think I’m leaving. Not this time. Where would I even go? “Yeah, I don’t have any plans to leave this time.”
Burt smiles. “Well, that’s good to hear. You have a good day now. I’ll see you around.” And with that, he tips his hat at me and walks out the door.
Austin chuckles in my ear. “Burt?”
