He just shrugs. “Leave bossman to me. It’s Saturday, and you’ll need the extra calories in a few hours when the bar fills up again.”
I huff out a small laugh. Gabe has been spoiling me with food ever since my first day.
“Okay, thank you, Gabe.”
He waves me off. “You be sure to bring me some drinks tonight while I slave away in this kitchen, and we’re even.”
I laugh. “Slave away? You love cooking. Your wife told me you made a mess of the kitchen at home during the snowstorm because you missed it so much.” I smirk.
“My wife has a big mouth… and a big heart.” He shakes his head. “Enjoy your lunch.”
“I will. Thanks, Gabe.”
I step outside and sit on the stairs that lead to the bar. Birds are chirping, and I can see trees starting to sprout new leaves. I close my eyes as I chew, letting the warmth settle over my face, slow and comforting.
I’ve always loved the sun on my skin.
“You looking to get sunburned?”
I startle and find Dex standing behind me. He pulls out a cigarette and lights it.
I scrunch my nose. “It’s not that hot yet, and…” I point to his cigarette. “That stuff will kill you, you know.”
Dex exhales a stream of smoke, and even though I hate the smell, my attention drifts anyway to the way he looks, the way his eyes stay on me, steady and unreadable.
The heat of him settles close when he moves.
Too close.
My pulse shifts.
I take a quick sip of my soda.
“I don’t think I can stop,” he says as he sits beside me.
I stare ahead as he exhales again. “I was trying to eat here.” I gesture to my half-eaten sandwich.
Dex glances at it, then at me, and quietly puts the cigarette out.
This is it. The right moment to tell him everything.
“Dex, I wanted to…”
The words rise, press against my throat, but for a second I can’t get them out, my fingers tightening around the soda can as my heartbeat picks up.
“Uncle Dex!”
I look up and see Mia running toward us, Ethan and Summer following behind.
Dex stands and catches her in his arms.
For a moment, I just stare.
The image of him holding Mia, smiling down at her like that, sends something warm and unexpected blooming through my chest, my heart picking up in a way that feels too soft.
Too dangerous.
“Lexy! So nice to see you.” Summer pulls me out of it. I look up and find her smirking.
