Hector chuckled and went back to cooking. “I forgot you know where everything is.”
Will felt his cheeks heat and prayed his face wasn’t turning red. “Sorry.”
Hector grunted, but didn’t say anymore. Will watched him for a moment before going to get the glasses and setting them on the table. He didn’t seem upset, but Will couldn’t be sure. He had spent the better part of the last few years dealing with someone who had a hair trigger.
He wasn’t taking any chances.
Once he was all done setting the table, Will stopped at the far end of the counter from Hector. “Is there anything else I can help with?”
Hector glanced at the table. “Get the juice and butter out of the fridge, oh, and there’s syrup on the shelf in the pantry.”
Will quickly grabbed the items Hector said and placed them on the table. By the time he was done, Hector was setting plates of food on the table. Will’s eyes rounded when he saw it all. Bacon, eggs, pancakes, and a bowl of fresh fruit.
Hector sat down then waved his hand toward the table. “Eat up.”
Will waited until Hector had loaded his plate down until he started spooning food onto his own plate. He didn’t add too much. He didn’t want to seem greedy when Hector was being so nice about providing him with a meal.
“There’s plenty, Will.”
Will nodded as he chewed. He cast a glance at his plate. He’d put quite a bit of food on it compared to what he was used to. He wasn’t exactly starving for a meal, but there never seemed to be enough food to go around.
“Why breakfast for dinner?” he asked. He really wanted to get Hector’s mind off his food intake. It made his stomach clench.
“I like breakfast.”
Well, that was clear enough.
“It’s good.” He wasn’t lying. It was simple food, but tasty. The bacon had just the right amount of crispness. The eggs were cooked without being dry. And the pancakes were light and fluffy.
When he was done eating, Will grabbed his plate and carried it to the sink. “Are you done?” he asked. When Hector nodded, he gathered up all the remaining dishes and placed them in the sink after putting away any leftover food. He’d learned years ago never to let anything go to waste.
Will washed up the dishes then dried them and put them away. When he was all done, he wiped down the counters, the stove, and the table. After he hung the dishtowel on the stove handle, he turned to find Hector watching him.
“What?”
“Thank you.”
Will frowned. “For what?”
“For cleaning up after dinner.”
Will didn’t understand. “You cooked. It was only fair.”
The corners of Hector’s mouth curved up. “It’s still nice not to have to do the cleanup.” Hector pointed to the chair Will had been sitting in. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
Uh oh. Nothing good ever came from words like that.
Will swallowed tightly as he sat down across from Hector. He clasped his hands tightly together in his lap to keep from fidgeting with them. He fidgeted when he was nervous, and he had plenty to be nervous about.
“The sheriff came looking for you earlier, before I found you in the basement.”
Will’s eyes rounded. “I didn’t do anything. Swear.”
“I never said you did, Will, and neither did the sheriff. He just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh.”
“I called the sheriff a little while ago you were sleeping and told him you were here.”
