“Guess I need breakfast, too.”
“Where’s Mom?”
“Helpin’ out at the bakery today. Two of the girls called in sick.” He pushed open the swinging door and yelled, “Hey, Larry, gonna need some hash browns, bacon and a coupla eggs. Scrambled with cheese.”
Zeke heard the cook call out, “Don’t want pancakes?”
“Why the fuck would I want pancakes?” He let the door swing shut and headed to the other side of the bar to grab a mug and some coffee from the commercial coffeemaker in the corner.
Wanting a beer must have been bullshit.
But,for fuck’s sake, this was not good. His father was settling in. Maybe Zeke should head Kyra off outside. Offer to take them to the diner again instead.
Except the only scratch in his possession was what he’d just swiped from The Iron Horse. Larry made the best fucking pancakes and those wouldn’t cost him shit.
His old man was going to choke on those hash browns if he spotted Ledger.
Of course, that was when the back door opened, the morning sun backlighting the newest arrivals so they weren’t immediately recognizable.
But Zeke knew who they were. Then once the door shut, the dark figures disappeared and mother and son appeared. Very clearly.
Zeke’s heart began to pound and his chest tightened as his father looked up from taking a sip of his coffee.
Zeke didn’t know who to look at first. His father, his kid, or his former ol’ lady.
Ky’s tits and hips won out, but only for a few seconds.
Until the bottom of the ceramic coffee mug smacked the bar top and he heard a mumbled, “Holy fuck.” His old man’s eyes turned to Zeke and he repeated, “Holy fuck.”
Kyra froze only feet inside the door, gripping Ledger’s hand. “I…um…” She bugged her eyes out at Zeke.
He tried to relay without words that this hadn’t been the plan, but Kyra’s gaze was now focused on Zak as he took long, stiff strides to where they stood.
Zeke quickly followed on his father’s heels.
When Zak got to them, he glanced over his shoulder. “Got somethin’ to tell me?”
Zeke scratched behind his ear. He had a lot of shit to say, but it needed to wait for a better time. Not while Kyra and Ledger were standing in front of them.
If looks could kill, Zeke would be dead. Two times over. Once by his son’s mother and once by his son’s grandfather.
Fuuuuuuck.
“Nothin’?” Zak asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Z, you remember Kyra.”
“Yeah. Her I remember. It’s the little guy I don’t.” Notwaiting for a response, Zak squatted down in front of Ledger. “Got a name, kiddo?”
Ledger’s eyes were glued to Zak. In a proud and loud voice, he announced, “Ledger.”
“Howya doin’, Ledger? I’m your Gr—” Zak’s chin jerked into his neck and he suddenly looked like he was about to puke.
After taking a few deep breaths he tried to stand again but, on a groan, failed. He lifted his hand and his eyes toward Zeke.
His old man couldn’t get the fuck up.Holy fuck, his old man was actually getting…old.
Zeke didn’t need to smother his grin because seeing signs of his father aging made it die on its own. But now was not the time to fuck with Zak, so he clasped hands with him and pulled him to his feet.
