April's expression flickered—something careful sliding into place. "It's fine. Just temperamental."
"April."
"What?"
"You're a terrible liar. Always have been." Shane leaned forward slightly. "What's really going on with it?"
She sighed, setting her mug on a side table. "It's dying. Like, really dying. We can probably limp it through another month, maybe two if we're lucky and sacrifice the right combination of kitchen appliances to the appliance gods."
"And then?"
"And then I refinance my house against my father’s wishes to replace it and hope nothing else breaks for the next six months." She said it matter-of-factly, not even the ghost of self-pity in her voice. "We'll make it work. We always do."
Shane felt the old rage uncurl in the pit of his stomach. Damn his father. He wanted to offer to buy her a new machine right there. Wanted to fix it, solve it, throw money at the problem until it went away.
Not to mention pummeling my old man.
But he knew April well enough to know that offering her money would be the fastest way to shut her down completely.
"Can I take a look at it?" he asked instead. "I'm pretty handy with machines. Might be able to buy you some more time."
April snorted. "No way. You’d have to fight my father first. That thing’s his baby and he doesn’t want anyone touching his baby.” Her eyes went straight to her foot still resting in Shane’s hand and her cheeks turned bright red. “Um, besides, if youelectrocuted yourself, I'm not telling Kyle that his best guy got taken out by an oversized coffee maker."
Shane smiled. Another thing that never changed about April—she’d always been quick to make a joke to deflect. "So how was the party?"
April groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Wren is the worst. I love her, but she's relentless."
“About what?”
April peeked at him between her fingers. “Rochelle told everyone that we were on a date at lunch.”
"She's not wrong."
April dropped her hands. "About what?"
"About it being a date. Kinda felt like one to me. Just like tonight." He stroked her foot.
"Shane Foti, are you saying we’re on date number two and you didn't even ask me first?"
"Hey, you invited me to lunch first." He was grinning now, couldn't help it. "I just brought pizza, that’s all. And…date number two, did you say? Is that an admission that lunch was date number one?"
"Oh my God." But she was smiling too, that real smile that made her whole face light up. "You're impossible."
"I prefer 'determined.'"
April shook her head, but the smile didn't fade. "Claudia was there today."
Shane went still. His mom’s friend? "Bear's mom? How'd that go?" He dreaded the answer.
"Better than I expected, actually." April pulled her feet back, tucking them under her again. "She pulled me aside. Told me some things."
"Like what?"
April met his eyes as her expression turned serious. "Like how you've been trying to get your mom to leave your dad. Howyou told her you won't introduce her to any future grandchildren unless she changes her attitude." She paused.
Shane's jaw tightened. "I didn't know she was telling people that."
"Shane." April's voice went soft. "She said you're standing up to your parents. Because of me."
