“That’s right. Now tell me what she was lying about,” I tease, and he launches into a story about how they ended up with three llamas on a golf course. I barely listen to the words he’s saying but watching him talk so animatedly is like soaking in the sunshine.
“And they were only from across the street, so it’s not like we took them very far.” He pauses and looks at me. “I’m sorry, is this boring?”
“Not at all. You sound happy.”
“Instead of being pouty and sad all the time.” He puts his head down again.
“Rory. Look at me,” I order, and he does. “It’s okay to be sad. You’re still recovering.”
“It’s been months. I should be, well, maybe not over it, but getting better.”
“My wife died twenty years ago.” The words come out, and I’m shocked by them, but I continue. “She was my best friend, and it still hurts when I think of her.”
“I’m so sorry, Lex.” He puts his hand on top of mine, and I just look at it. He moves to pull it away, but I twist my hand and entangle our fingers together.
“Thank you, rabbit.”
He smiles down at our hands before he takes a drink of his coffee. I realize that I haven’t touched mine, so I take a sip and almost gag.
“Told you!” Vera shouts across the shop.
“You don’t like it?” Rory asks, and he sound kind of amused. Did he know this would happen?
“It’s… sweeter than I’m used to.” I take another drink and force it down. Rory smiles and looks up at me while he takes a drink.
“I thought you said you like sweet things,” he teases, and fuck, he looks good with his tongue wrapped around the straw.
“I was talking about you.” I raise an eyebrow, and Rory almost chokes on his drink.
“That was mean.” He shoves a napkin against his mouth and coughs.
“Would you be offended if I went and ordered a different drink?”
“Can I drink yours?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why not?” He pouts, and that luscious bottom lip makes me want things I’ve never wanted before.
“Because that is way too much sugar and caffeine for one person.”
“Fine.” He huffs, and I take my cup with me back to the counter just to remove the temptation from his reach.
Vera hands me a regular black coffee.
“Thanks?” I ask and take a sip. It’s good.
“Strongest most bitter stuff we got.”
“How did you know?”
“You might like your men sweet, but you’ve got a cigarette-and-scotch kinda vibe.” She shrugs, and she’s not wrong. Although Liv convinced me to stop smoking when she was five.
“What do I owe you?”
“I knew this would happen, so I already charged you for it.” That startles a chuckle from me. “Oh, and this.” She hands me a plate with a breakfast sandwich on it. “It’s Rory’s favorite.”
I nod in approval.
