“Lucy! I’m home!” Sammy announces in time with the bell as he throws the door open, with Jace and Annie trailing behind like exhausted parents.
I set a tea pitcher on a nearby table and brace myself.
“OOF. Geez, Moose.” I pat him on the back as he lowers my feet back to the ground. “Y’all go grab that table in the back where I can see the door.”
“Aww, you watchin’ for your man?” Annie grins.
“Maybe. I’m not sure. But I need to see when customers come in.”
Jace looks down at his phone. “I think he’s home, Cupcake.”
I check my phone, irritated at Jace for knowing before I do, but he’s right.
Jude Daniel (Take a Sad Song and Make it Sexy) Crawford:Hey, Punk.Just got home. Trying to make myself wait here so I’m not tempted to quit your job for you and carry you out the door.
Jude Daniel (Take a Sad Song and Make it Sexy) Crawford:Hurry. I’m dying here.
Me:I’m hurrying!
Jude Daniel (Take a Sad Song and Make it Sexy) Crawford:Be safe.I love you.
“Hey, y’all! I’m Lainey. I’ll get your drinks since Lu Lu’s busy smiling at her phone.”
“Uh-oh. Busted, Cupcake.” Jace pokes my arm. “You love-drunk little slacker.”
I smack him lightly on the back of the head, and he scratches his chin with his middle finger.
“Don’t y’all start,” Annie warns, the twitch of her shoulder giving away the smack to Jace’s leg under the table.
And I’d bet my guitar he enjoyed it.
Sam and I share a smirk when Lainey breaks our twin telepathy. “Chocolate shake, right, Sam?”
“Aw, Miss Lainey. You remembered!”
I narrow my eyes at him in a jailbait warning when a loud crash of trays reminds us that Gavin’s been left unsupervised for far too long.
“You can get their order, Lainey. I’ll take orange cat duty.”
Annie and the guys chat in the parking lot while Lainey, Gavin, and I finish closing up. I practically rip my cap off in the doorway, a to-go bag with wings and mac ’n’ cheese swinging from my arm.
Sammy trots over to say good night to my young co-workers and snatches my keys right out of my hand.
I glare at him, annoyed and confused when he pockets them and takes my hat, blocking my path to the car as he licks his fingers and smooths flyaway hair from my ponytail.
“Eww! What are you doing?” I swat his hand away. “Stop it.”
“You won’t be needin’ ’em, Lu Lu. Here, let me hold that.”
“Moose, I’ve been on my feet for eight hours. I want to go home. I’m not in the mood to play games.”
“You’ll like this one.” He grins, stepping out of my way.
“Move it, Moose. I need my girl.” Jude grabs my face in both hands, eliciting a muffled whimper when he kisses me hard before wrapping his arms around me, our hearts racing like we just outran death itself.
“You came home to me,” I say, inhaling his freshly showered scent and wintergreen.
“Youarehome to me.”
