Then I catch myself. Should I wait? Is grabbing bread immediately too eager? Too childish?
Tyler notices my hesitation. "Go ahead. I'm starving too."
"Really?"
"Really. Lunch was eight hours ago." He tears off a piece of bread.
“Sometimes I get busy when I'm working and don’t eat. I get focused and forget,” I confess.
"That's not good for you."
"No, it's not." I agree.
"You need to do a better job taking care of yourself. Try to eat regular meals more often.”
Heat creeps up my neck at his scolding. "Maybe, I’ll try."
"Good. Someone should look after you."
There's something in the way he says it. Like he wants to be the one to look after me. Am I imagining things?
I tear off my own piece of bread, dunking it in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It's heaven.
"Oh my God," I moan. "This is so good."
Tyler's eyes darken. "You make that sound for all bread, or just the exceptional stuff?"
I nearly choke. "I—that's—I just really like carbs, okay?"
"Noted. Chloe likes carbs." He's grinning now. Actually grinning. "What else should I know?"
"About my food preferences?"
"About you in general."
I set down my bread. "That's a big question."
"We've got time. How’s Mochi doing?”
"She's fine. I set up the baby monitor app on my phone." I show him the screen, where Mochi is visible sleeping in her bed.
"You got a kitten monitor?"
"Emily texted me the link. Said all good pet parents use them."
"Emily's the yoga instructor?"
"How did you?—"
"I've seen her at the gym on base. She teaches a class there Tuesday and Thursday mornings." He takes a sip of water. "She's your best friend, right?"
"How do you know that?"
"You talk about her a lot. When you're making drinks in the morning, you mention her. 'Emily would love this,' or 'I need to tell Emily about that customer. Saturday you told me Emily says you are brave, too." He looks almost embarrassed. "I pay attention."
My heart does a cartwheel. "You really do notice everything."
"When it comes to you? Yes."
