Since their first real date and that night spent in his room, Sam hadn't stayed over at the house. Wyatt could tell he wanted to take it slow. That was probably smart, but it made Wyatt crazy.
His last conversation with his aunt made him crazy too. When Wyatt told her about him and Sam, she lectured him not to bring someone into the boys' lives who might not last.
"Some young guy with no roots, who might be moving on tomorrow or next week, what could you be thinking, Wyatt?" Aunt Deb had said, but that didn't describe Sam at all.
Wyatt didn't try to convince her. He knew Sam would prove her wrong, but Wyatt did wish he could hurry things along. With Sam's troubled past, Wyatt had to let him set the pace or he might risk scaring him off. It was painful to deny himself like this though.
Good thing the boys were always up for eating at the café. They always made sure to sit in Sam's section. That day they were at the café for lunch. While Sam was bringing their order, Mrs. Del Rio's grandson stopped by their table to give Sam a message from the kitchen then he turned to Wyatt and the boys. "You guys are good customers. We see you in here all the time. No wonder my grandma loves you."
"This is our favorite place to eat, right guys?" Wyatt said. With Sam being here, it couldn't be beat.
"We like the big burgers at Big Bert's Burgers too, but we like this place because you're here," Riley told Sam, and DJ gave him a smile, silently agreeing with what his little brother said.
"Thanks guys," Sam said, blushing a little.
"Hear that? You're good for business," Enrico told him and clapped him on the back.
Wyatt frowned at the physical contact, but then quickly flashed Sam a smile. After giving Wyatt a questioning look, Sam had to go take an order at another table. Enrico was gone too, and Wyatt and the boys started eating.
Wondering about the place they mentioned, Wyatt asked the boys, "Where is this Big Bert's Burgers?"
"You have to go on a road," DJ said and Wyatt was reminded that kids were no good at directions. He figured he'd ask Sam about it and use that as an excuse to go over and talk to him. If it was someplace they could go together, he was definitely going to invite him to come with them. Any excuse to do something with Sam.
When their check was on the table, and the kids were finishing up their juices, Wyatt decided to go and pay at the counter and steal a little time with Sam. While he did that, he could ask him about that burger place and make plans for them to see each other again.
Unfortunately, Enrico got to him first. He sure found a lot of reasons to talk to Sam. With their heads inclined, they were busy talking, and Sam didn't even notice Wyatt. Were those two joined at the hip?
Since Enrico was working at the café, it wasn't weird that they had reason to talk, but Wyatt would swear Sam talked to him more than anyone else who worked there. Or maybe Wyatt just noticed more.
"Just here to pay the bill," Wyatt said when Sam came over to him. "I guess a newbie needs a lot of pointers. Nice of you to help him out."
"You mean Rico? He isn't new. He's worked here before, usually over the summer," Sam said.
"Rico?" Wyatt said and felt his jealousy come back full force.
"Enrico, Mrs. Del Rio's grandson," Sam said, but Wyatt already knew who he was talking about.
"Right. But you call him Rico," Wyatt said not hiding how he felt about it.
"That's what everyone calls him. You have a problem with that?" Sam asked with a challenge in his voice.
Wyatt wasn't looking to pick a fight when they only had a little time to spend together. "Don't mind me. Actually, other than bugging you and paying the bill, I wanted to ask you if that burger place the kids mentioned is somewhere we can take them. Is it close by?" Wyatt asked.
"It's right up the highway. Maybe half an hour from here," Sam said.
"Any time you're free, we can go. Just let me know," Wyatt told him then he noticed that Sam's eyes had strayed to somewhere over his shoulder.
Wyatt turned and saw that Rico was delivering an order to a table in the back. For some reason, Sam was watching him. It wasn't an admiring look or anything, but Wyatt decided to needle him about it anyway. "But maybe you'd rather go get a burger with Rico."
As soon as he said that, Wyatt watched as Sam's expression changed. "What?" he said and looked stricken then mad before he turned and walked away.
Caught off guard, Wyatt only stared after him. Was he really mad? Did he take what Wyatt said seriously? Wyatt tried to follow him, but he saw him go over to their table to talk to the boys and pick up their empty plates and glasses. The bill needed to be paid anyway.
Wyatt waited for a chance to talk to Sam again, but right now the boys were telling him about what the dogs had been up to. Since his conversation with Sam was bound to be tense, Wyatt didn't want to interrupt.
He approached as Sam was stepping away, but once he was done talking to the boys, he didn't spare even a single glance for Wyatt. With a tray of dishes, he just walked away.
Coming out from the back, Sam got busy taking an order. In fact the whole place was busy. As soon as Wyatt and the boys left their table, it was occupied again.
