“Oh, good, oh?” he asks.
“Oh, perfect, oh.”
His shoulders relax instantly.
“Seriously?” he asks.
“Seriously,” I confirm.“This tastes exactly like mom’s.”
He grins.
“I knew it.”
“You absolutely did not know it,” I laugh.
I take another bite and let myself enjoy it properly this time. For a moment, everything feels normal. Easy. Familiar.
Safe.
“I missed this,” I admit quietly.
“Me too,” Zane says.
We eat in comfortable silence for a minute before he looks at me again.
“So,” he says casually,“how was your first night back?”
I keep my eyes on my plate.
“It was good,” I say.“Quiet.”
“Quiet good or quiet lonely?”
“Quiet good,” I answer honestly.
He nods as he believes me.
“And?” he asks.“Did you do anything exciting?”
“I unpacked. Ordered pizza. Watched a movie.”
“What movie?”
“Dumplin’.”
He pauses mid-bite.“That tracks,” he says.
“It’s a great movie.”
“I’m not arguing with you.”
I hesitate for a second before continuing.
“Oh,” I add lightly,“and Blake stopped by, of course.”
“I’m so sorry I forgot about that,” Zane groans. “ Did he scare you?”
“I almost called the police on him,” I say.
