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Now, it’s my turn to frown.
“I’ve missed your heart attack on a plate,” Connor says, not acknowledging what she said.
“Oscar, double everything on that order,” Martha yells into the kitchen.
He salutes her, knowing that she’s the boss. Literally and figuratively.
“We’ve got a growing boy here. How’s that little Lilliana?”
“Not so little anymore,” Connor says.
“Sad that’s how life works. I hear you got married,” Martha says.
I cringe. Connor’s eyes cut to me.
“I did,” he says.
“Well, you’ll have to bring the lady in. I’d love to meet her.”
“I’ll be sure to do that,” Connor tells her.
Martha gives him a few more squeezes before she leaves to putter around behind the counter. She’s a good woman. She takes care of me, Riley, and all her waitresses. She was the one to offer me a job before I even applied. I was eating in here, spending the last of my funds and searching for jobs online, when she outright asked if I was looking for work.
She’s been a mother to me ever since.
“Order up,” Oscar yells.
Riley leaves to retrieve Connor’s breakfast.
Silence descends between us until he finally asks, “How have you been?”
“I’m fine,” I tell him, and he nods.
The muscles in his jaw tic as he decides where he’s even going with this conversation.
“How are your classes going?”
My eyes widen. I’m surprised that he knows I’m taking classes.
“Are you following me?”
“No,” he says.
I study him. “Are you having me followed?”
“I would call it regular check-ins,” he says with a shrug.
My mouth gapes. “I’m not a child, Connor. You don’t have to check up on me.”
“I know,” he says.
Riley appears and lays his plate down, and he immediately grabs the fork, digging in.
“This is delicious,” he tells her.
She beams as if she were the one who cooked it.
She stands there until she finally sees my face, and then she backs up, hands slightly raised as she mouths,You’re going to tell me everything.
