Connor: Maggie’s here, by the way.
Ethan straightened, the thought of pancakes suddenly too fucking appealing.
He switched back to the Facebook chat with Maggie.
Ethan: Seeing as you miss me so much, I might come and have some pancakes with you.
He rose and shoved his cell into his pocket.
When he reached The Pancake Bar, his gaze immediately landed on Maggie. She wore a beige sweater and jeans. Her hair was down and everything about her was beautiful and effortless.
She smiled and rose. “Hey. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“What are you talking about, I told you.”
“When?”
“In the?—”
“Ethan.”
He turned to see Nel stepping into The Pancake Bar behind him.
She smiled widely at him before offering a tighter smile to Maggie. “Hi.”
Maggie dipped her head. “Hey, Nel.”
“I’m, uh, just here to grab a coffee.” Nel fidgeted with her bracelet. “I didn’t mean to interrupt…this.” She swallowed before stepping around Ethan to the counter.
“You gonna sit with us or the guys?” Polly asked once Nel was gone.
“Why not both?” Joel said from behind Ethan, before setting a cinnamon roll on the table and pulling another table over. He lowered himself beside Polly, and Connor and Zac joined them.
Ethan smiled at Maggie. “Is that okay?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
The two women answered at the same time.
Maggie sighed before tugging Ethan into the seat beside hers.
Joel pushed a partially eaten pastry in front of Polly. “Here you go.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, the roll you’ve seasoned with your saliva? No, thanks.”
What the hell was that about?
Over the next half hour, Polly and Joel continued to bicker. Nel left, as did Polly’s mother and the man who was with her. When Raven Price stepped inside, Ethan didn’t miss the way Connor followed her around the café with his gaze.
He nudged Connor’s shoulder. “You should talk to her.”
“I should, shouldn’t I?”
Connor looked like he was about to get up, when an older couple stepped into the café and went straight over to Raven. Her parents? They seemed to talk quietly for a minute before Raven guided them out.
Connor leaned back in his seat again.
