He nodded. “Uh-huh. Dad takes me here sometimes. I like the racing game the most though.”
“Well, why don’t we play a few rounds after dinner? I’m sure I have some quarters in my pocket.”
Harrison beamed. “Okay!”
When Brad finally joined us, his brother Isaac was with him. I wasn’t surprised in the least, it felt as if every time I saw them, they were together. I envied their relationship more than I cared to admit, since it always made me miss Max and Desmond a little.
The vinyl creaked as they sat down, and Harrison quickly crawled under the table to slide between Jake and me on our side. He leaned in to Jake and whispered something in his ear, which made Jake look at me for a split second and shake his head conspiratorially. Harrison whispered something else that made Jake laugh, wrapping an arm around him in a quick hug. I wanted to ask what he said, but when Jake gave me a playful wink, I let it go. The two were clearly having a moment.
We ordered a personal-sized pepperoni for Harrison and large supreme for the rest of us, minus the mushrooms since Isaac claimed they were the devil’s food.
“Amelia hates them too,” Brad commented.
“That’s because Amelia knows what’s good for her,” Isaac said.
“What’s going on with you two?” Jake asked. “You’ve been together a lot lately.”
Brad looked away. “She just needs a friend. Her ex did a number on her.”
“Jake knowsthat,”Isaac exasperated. “What he’s really trying to ask is, why aren’t you two dating yet?” Brad glared at Isaac, but he didn’t back down. “Hey, it’s a fair question! You were all over her at the club.”
The tips of Brad’s ears turned pink as he reached for his soda, trying to avoid the subject.
“How’s she doing?” Jake asked in a soft tone.
“She’s better, but she has a way to go. Counseling is helping though.”
“That’s good.”
“Is Amelia the lady at the bakery?” Harrison asked.
I shook my head. “That’s Trish. Amelia works at the inn.”
He shrugged when he didn’t remember her and took a sip of his soda.
A moment later, the pizza was delivered on a huge pizza stone. The waiter settled it on a riser before placing Harrison’s smaller pizza in front of him. The mixed aroma of warm cheese and tomato blended with herbs made my mouth water.
Jake dished himself a couple of slices while Harrison poured an excessive amount of parmesan on his personal pizza. Then, instead of picking up one of the slices, he used a fork to pick at the toppings, eating them one at a time.
“My sister used to eat her pizza the same way,” I told him, making Harrison grin. “She didn’t like to get messy when she ate.”
Harrison’s chin was already covered in sauce, so I knew that wasn’t his reasoning, but he didn’t explain either.
After spending time with Brad and Isaac, we were both finally able to relax. It felt good to talk about things other than Harrison’s uncertain future. I was starting to think I could easily become friends with these guys, and I could tell Jake felt at ease with them too as the conversation barely lulled the entire time.
I thought it would bother me to see Jake and Isaac being so friendly, knowing they had slept together in the past, and it did a little. Every time Jake looked at me though, I knew deep in my soul that his connection was with me. Whatever past they shared meant nothing to him.
“You know what I miss?” Isaac asked his brother. “Those milkshakes they used to serve here.” Brad closed his eyes and moaned. “Right? Oh my God, they were the best!”
“And huge,” Brad added. “I could never finish one. But they had fresh strawberry chunks in them that I’d always get stuck in the straws.”
“I always got the chocolate, with the grated chocolate pieces mixed in.”
“I want a milkshake!” Harris said.
“Sorry, bud, they don’t make them anymore,” Brad said.
Jake pulled some coins from his pocket as soon as he was done eating and led Harrison over to the arcade games. I couldn’t see them, but everyone in the restaurant could hear them. Harrison’s laughter carried easily, and Jake’s wasn’t much quieter.
