“You’ve changed your bandanna,” he says
“I felt purple today.”
“It does lovely things for your eyes, and I didn’t think they could get lovelier.”
And now I’m smiling and blushing harder.
His gaze flicks to my lips, then back up to my eyes. “At least twelve burgers, I’m certain. Would you like me to take my shirt off and call everyone else over too?”
“Maybe after you eat.”
“Dad, Mum’s here!” Charlie shrieks from the back of the bus.
Simon’s brows shoot up. “Truly?”
I nod. “We’ve been talking about how annoying it is when people think you’re funny.”
He smiles broader.
“Oh my god, don’t be happy about that! And we weren’t. We wouldn’t. You’re honestly very funny. But we were hardly talking about you at all.”
“Were you thinking about me at all then?” he murmurs.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Excellent. Glad to hear it. And we truly do want at least a dozen burgers.”
The boys are peppering Lana with questions and hugging her, and for a split second, I feel the hardest longing.
It’s the way she’s smiling at them.
Like they’re her whole world.
The best thing she’s ever done in life.
Just like Simon said they were.
I raised my brothers, but I didn’t getthat.
“Any secret menu items?” Simon asks me.
“Do you want a secret menu item?”
“I have an insufferable craving for corn dogs.”
“Just corn dogs?” I tease.
He grabs my hand and turns his face into my palm, pressing a light kiss to it. “Corn dogs made all the more delicious for the specific companionship.”
Yep.
I’m in trouble.
I know it’ll hurt when he leaves, I told Daphne.
I just hope it hurts less for knowing it’s coming.
26
