“I want the jerk tacos for sure,” Darren said.
“And the plantains!” Linc urged. “If we have any vegetarian guests, it’ll be a good option.”
“Do we know any vegetarians?”
“Maybe?” Linc hedged.
Darren chuckled. “Babe, you can just say you like them. You know I’ll give you anything you want.”
Linc beamed. “Okay, fine. I like them. I’ll eat them all if no one else wants them, and then you can roll me out of there.”
Darren patted Linc’s tummy. “I’ll pack some sweats so you have room for all the food.”
“Aw, so thoughtful,” Linc teased. “It’s like you never stopped wooing me.”
“And I never will.”
Darren snuck a kiss, and my heart melted a little. Not so long ago, I would have been envious. But now it just made me eager to wrap up this shift and go home to Hank.
Corey judged me. “Stop thinking about kissing my brother.”
My cheeks heated. “I’m not.”
Marissa chuckled. “Happiness looks good on you, Jamie. No need to deny it.”
It was two more hours before we were able to clean up the kitchen and head home for the night. I gave Corey a ride, since we were headed to the same place.
In the car, he turned to me. “I was just kidding, you know? I think you make Hank really happy.”
I glanced sidelong at him. “Yeah? He makes me happy too.”
He nodded. “Anyone can see how good you guys are together. But um…”
“Yes?”
“Could you maybe spend the night atyourplace tonight? No offense. I just need a break from sleeping with earbuds in.”
I laughed as embarrassment seared through me. Were we really that loud?
“Sorry.”
“Nah, don’t be. I’d go to Rachel’s, but she’s been busy with family stuff lately.”
“Anything you want to talk about?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just feel like I never come first with her. I’m trying not to be jealous or possessive or whatever, but she goes out with friends more than with me. I have to try to fit into her schedule. Her priorities are her family, then her high school friends, and then me.”
“Well, I don’t know Rachel or her situation,” I said carefully, “but it sounds like maybe you should talk about how you’re feeling. A relationship doesn’t work without honesty.”
“How do you and Hank do it?”
“Do what?” I asked, confused.
“Make it look so easy.”
“Oh.” My heart fluttered. “I didn’t know that we did. It’s really new for us, Corey. I don’t know that it’s fair to compare. We might have problems in the future. I’m sure we will. We’ll just talk about them, and I really hope we’ll work them out. Maybe you and Rachel will too?”
He smiled uncertainly. “Yeah, maybe. Thanks for the advice.”
