“It’s a cornetto, and it’s filled with macadamia cream. You’ve gotta try it.”
Reluctantly, she dabbed the tip of her pinky finger into the off-white glop that had spilled out onto the plate. She brought it to her mouth and–
“Wow.”
“Right?” Noah grinned at her and took a huge bite of his half. She picked up the other half and nibbled at it. The buttery pastry was a perfect complement to the rich, nutty, not-too-sweet filling.
“It’s like a malasada, but better.”
“Blasphemy,” he said. “But you might be right.”
She washed it down with a swig of coffee. A good local brew, she tasted immediately – not some mainland junk.
“Okay,” Anne said reluctantly. “You win. I’m a convert.”
“You can see why I’ve given up cooking breakfast at home.”
She glanced back down at the menu and winced at the prices. “Construction pays that well, huh?”
“I keep busy,” he said, unbothered.
“I’ve been busy all my life, and yet here I am.”
“Eating a gourmet pastry in paradise?”
“Flat broke. Living with my mother.”
“It’s a blip.”
“A what?”
“A blip. You’re just… catching your breath.”
“That’s one way to look at it.” She looked down at the napkin she held in her lap, unconsciously shredding the edges. “I’ve been meaning to thank you.”
“What for?”
“Being there for my family. Helping my mom. Being there for Zoe. I never realized…”
“They’re my family too,” he said gently. “It wasn’t–” He ran a hand through his dark hair, searching for the right words. “It wasn’t altruistic, being there for Zoe. I wanted to see her grow up.”
Anne flinched, then nodded.
“My dad was never around. I didn’t want that for Zoe. I mean, she had Kimo. But I wanted to be there for her.” His hand moved towards her across the table without him even seeming to realize it. “I wanted to be there for you, too.”
“But I shut you out,” she acknowledged, her voice small and quiet.
“Why?”
“You were too good.”
“Too good foryou?” he asked, incredulous.
She shook her head. “That’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was scared, I guess. I felt… trapped.”
