"Yeah, what are you smiling about?"
"Oh, I, uh…" I hadn't expected the blunt question, and I had nothing come to my mind but the truth.
"Alex was talking about me making more food because Ash is coming by."
"Oh, yeah, he was talking to Ash on the phone. I guess he's coming by. Wait, is that why you're smiling? Because of Ash?"
"It's not because of him. I mean, it sort of is."
"I thought you said you guys were bad together," she said, looking concerned.
"It's not that, it's just that I was still in a bad place when I was talking to him."
"Do you feel better now?"
"Yeah, I mean, you know how I've changed and everything. I'm not saying anything's gonna happen between us. I just like him like the Beatles."
"Like the Beatles?" she asked, coming to help me with the dishes.
"I'm just going to soak these," I said, seeing her. "And yes. It's just silly, the Beatles thing. I was telling him how I felt like a Beatles fan at his show, and… uh… it's nothing. Don't say I said that. It's just a harmless crush. I'm in a good place."
"When's Luna getting back?" she asked.
She didn't mean anything by it, but it stung. I deserved it. I shouldn't have been fantasizing about some guy when I was just getting situated on the right track.
"At three or four," I said. "I can't wait, I've been missing her," I added, so she wouldn't worry about me. "She's already asking if we can watch her put on a magic show tonight. She got a new kit from Kai's aunt."
"Aw, how cool."
"I know. She's excited. That's why she wants Izzy and Anna Grace to come over. She wants them to be her assistants for a magic show. She's been practicing."
"Oh, my goodness, that's going to be so good."
"I'm going to cook a couple more eggs for Ash."
"Can I help you?"
"Na, I got it. And I'll finish these dishes in a bit."
"We're going to that museum Lu likes," she said.
"I know, I still have to meet my bread guy, but I'll text you when I'm finished here and see where you are."
"Are you making more?" Judd asked, coming into the kitchen and seeing me approach the stove.
"Yeah, why? Do you want some?"
"I don't need it, but yes. Please and thank you." He said it in a funny way, causing us to laugh at him.
I took out the ingredients to do another order of my number one seller, the Eggs Benedict, which was something I could do in my sleep. Judd stayed in the kitchen and so did my sister, and before I knew it, Ash had arrived.
I knew it because my sister said, "Oh, there's Ash, I'm going to say 'hi' to him."
I was still finishing his food when he arrived, and the kitchen cleared out. I plated Ash a full breakfast, and then I portioned three more, smaller plates, knowing that Judd wasn't the only one who could eat more food. I finished and took everything to the front.
Music had been playing the whole time, but it seemed louder. It was She Loves You by the Beatles, and I noticed in horror that my sister was near the stereo controls. She came up from the counter with a cheesy grin, and I spent the next thirty seconds putting food out and begging myself not to blush as the song played.
Cameron was there, and she noticed that the music got louder and said something about the Beatles. I was concentrating on keeping my expression neutral and my face from blushing as I set the plate on a table that was next to Ash.
