Page 14 of Twins for Three Bad Boys

“Is that a compliment or a concern?”

“Observation,” he says. “You look tired. Not in a bad way. Just… like someone who’s been carrying their own weight for a while.”

My chest tightens.

I shrug, aiming for casual. “Story of my life.”

“If you don’t want to talk about it,” he says, “that’s fine.”

The respect in his words does something to me.

“I don’t,” I admit. Then, after a beat, “But… thanks for asking like that.”

He nods once, accepting the boundary without making me defend it.

“So, you’re passing through?” he says, tilting his head slightly. “What made you stop here?”

I think of motel parking lots. Of my car seat folded back. Of nights spent counting headlights. But I don’t want to say all of that. I don’t want to get into it tonight. It’s easier to keep things light.

Instead, I say, “I like towns where people look like they belong.”

I glance around the diner. Fern laughing with a regular. The clink of plates. The hum of ordinary life.

“That’s Redwood Run,” he says. “For better or worse.”

“You say that like you’ve tested it.”

“More than once.” His smile turns wry. “You still hungry?” he asks, nodding at my half-eaten plate.

“Starving,” I admit.

“Good,” he says, flagging Fern. “Me too.”

Fern grins happily.

“You behaving, Wayne?” she asks pointedly.

He lifts his hands. “Always.”

She snorts. “Liar.”

Wayne just smiles and turns back to me, eyes warm. “You want ice cream?”

“Yes.” I nod with the first real smile I’ve managed in ages. “Ice cream sounds amazing.”

CHAPTER TWO

Wayne

Fern slides two bowls across the counter. Vanilla for me, because she doesn’t need to ask, and something pink and swirled for June.

“On the house,” Fern says, eyes sharp as she looks between us. “Since this is clearly a special occasion.”

June laughs, clearly surprised. “What’s the occasion?”

Fern only winks and moves away.

June takes a bite. Pauses. Let herself feel it. I watch the way her shoulders loosen a fraction, the way she doesn’t rush the pleasure.