Mal nodded and as much as I liked that they seemed to be getting along, I had more important things to do.
“Since I’m not above using our connection, any way you can fast track getting our order loaded? I need to takemy manson a date.”
Trip groaned and flipped me off, knowing full well my phrasing was a tease. “Don’t ever say that again. You’re a horrible human.”
Mal looked between the two of us. I had to laugh, and I draped an arm around his shoulders. “Sorry. Trip’s last…situationship was young and really embraced the slang. He was always calling Trip ‘my mans’.”
Something registered in Mal’s eyes and his shoulders relaxed under my hold. He definitely pushed in a little closer to me, seeming more at ease.
“Come on,” Trip said, walking around us. “I’ll get your order but you have to help.”
Fifteen minutes later, we were on our way back toward the café.
“Two things,” Mal said, tone contemplative.
“Shoot.”
Mal nodded. “One, aren’t you worried someone is going to steal the stuff out of the bed while we eat?”
“Nah. Not in this town. Too many eyes everywhere. If someone did, someone else would see it and not hesitate to rat them out.”
Mal sat with that for a second. “Yeah, okay. Thing two then. Don’t you have enough brothers already? You had to go and adopt a friend too?”
It was said with humor that had me laughing. “Yeah, I guess so. Trip and I were the only two out queer kids in school. At the time, anyway. We formed the kind of friendship that can’t be broken.”
“I’m glad you had each other.”
I grinned. “Yeah, me too.”
Kira’s was packed, but the moment we walked in, Stacy spotted me and waved me over. I took Mal’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost as we weaved through the tables. She pointed toward a two-top near the bathrooms.
“Quick, take it before someone else comes in,” she said with a wink. I tipped my imaginary hat in thanks.
The table was small, and normally that would annoy me because I liked to have space. But right now, with Mal, I didn’t care one bit. Our knees touched under the table, and because I was long-legged, I totally had the excuse to slip my foot between his. Mal raised his eyebrows at that, but didn’t comment. And when I gave him a wink, he blushed for a minute before he got it under control.
“Order whatever you want. I’m paying,” I said, like it was some sort of big deal.
Mal picked up on it right away. “Hey, big spender.”
After Stacy took our order and brought us our drinks, I walked my fingers across the table until I could touch his hand. Mal glanced around but didn’t pull away. I took it as permission to play with his fingers.
He cleared his throat. “I had no idea you were this, uh, playful.”
I shrugged, then winked. I really liked the expression that crossed Mal’s face every time I winked. It was almost like I was working him up, with just that little expression. I hooked my foot around his ankle.
“I don’t know about playful. I just enjoy spending time with you,” I said, hoping the honesty in my tone was enough for him to believe it.
“Me, too,” he murmured.
“My, my. Doesn’t this look cozy?”
I whipped my head up to see Kathy Limmer, who was somewhere around my mom’s age. She was one of the librarians at the Russel Crossing Public Library and she’d been a busybody for as long as I’d known her. Whenever Mom had taken us to the library as kids, she’d always put on her fake nice for Ms. Limmer.
Mal tried to straighten up, pull his hand from mine, and untangle our legs. I couldn’t do anything about him pulling his feet away without jostling the whole table, but I kept a good hold on his hand. After a second, Mal stopped fighting me, but he looked tense.
“Just lunch before heading back to work,” I said, using the same tone Mom used to. “I’m sure you’re doing the same.”
Ms. Limmer didn’t know what to do with that statement. She just stared wide-eyed for a moment before collecting herself. “Why, yes. Of course. Enjoy your lunch, Crew.”
