They turned a corner, and Dakota could see the diner up ahead. Its neon sign flickered red and blue, advertising breakfast served all day. The windows glowed warm yellow, and Dakota could see people inside sitting in booths.
Kivani held the door open, and Dakota slipped past him into the diner. The smell of fried food and coffee hit him immediately. A waiter with dark hair looked up from behind the counter.
“Kivani,” he called out. “Your usual booth's open.”
“Thanks, Jace.”
Dakota followed Kivani to a booth near the back, sliding into the cracked vinyl seat across from him. The table was small, their knees almost touching underneath. A laminated menu sat propped between the salt and pepper shakers.
“Jace has worked here for a few years,” Kivani said, handing Dakota one of the menus. “He knows everyone’s order by heart.”
Dakota opened the menu and scanned the options. Burgers, sandwiches, breakfast plates, a few salads that looked like afterthoughts. His stomach growled, reminding him he’d only eaten that granola bar and some taffy today.
Jace appeared at their table with two glasses of water. “What'll it be, guys?”
“Bacon cheeseburger, fries, extra pickles,” Kivani said without looking at the menu.
Jace turned to Dakota, his pen poised over his notepad. “And for you?”
“Um, the grilled chicken salad?” Dakota handed back the menu.
“Dressing?”
“Ranch is fine.”
Jace scribbled on his pad and walked away, leaving them alone in the booth. Dakota took a sip of water and watched Kivani over the rim of his glass. The lighting in here was softer than in the taffy shop, casting shadows across Kivani’s features.
“So,” Kivani said, leaning back against the booth, “tell me about yourself. What do you do for work?”
“Freelance stuff. Computer programming, mostly. Web design sometimes.” Dakota set his glass down and traced a finger through the condensation. “It’s boring.”
“I doubt that. Sounds complicated.”
“It’s just following patterns. Once you understand the logic, it’s pretty straightforward.” Dakota looked up and found Kivani watching him with that focused attention that made him feel seen in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. “What about you? Is it just the taffy shop, or do you do other things?”
“Just the shop. It keeps me busy enough.” Kivani’s fingers drummed against the table. “I used to have other hobbies, but they fell away. The shop takes up most of my time.”
“Don’t you get lonely? Just working by yourself all day?”
Kivani’s expression softened, something thoughtful crossing his features. “Sometimes. But I also like the solitude. Gives me time to think.”
Jace returned with their food, setting the plates down with practiced efficiency. Dakota stared at his salad—crisp lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, and plenty of grilled chicken. Across from him, Kivani’s burger was massive, juice already running down the sides, fries piled high beside it.
“That looks really good,” Dakota said, eyeing the burger.
“Want to split it? I can get Jace to bring another plate.”
“No, no, I’m good.” Dakota speared a piece of lettuce with his fork. “I’m just surprised, I guess.”
“Surprised?”
Dakota gestured at Kivani with his fork, trying not to be obvious about looking at his arms, his shoulders, the way his shirt fit across his torso. “You’re so... I mean, you look like you eat clean. Meal prep and protein shakes and all that. But you’re ordering bacon cheeseburgers.”
Kivani picked up his burger and took a huge bite, chewing slowly before answering. “I don’t really believe in restricting food. Life’s too short to not eat what you want.”
“Then how do you...” Dakota trailed off, realizing how rude the question was. “Sorry, that’s totally inappropriate.”
“How do I look like this and eat like this?” Kivani finished for him. He didn’t sound offended, just amused. “I work with my hands all day. Pulling taffy is a full-body workout. Plus I walk everywhere. No gym required.”
