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With a huff, he sank into his seat. “Notthatsordid stuff.” His pout looked exaggerated. “I want thegaystuff.”
“I’m sure there are deep fakes online that will give you exactly what you’re looking for.” Eli’s answer surprised me.
Not because he was wrong, but because I didn’t think that was something he’d willingly admit.
“Eat.” Kandace tapped the top of Lucas’s box. “And tell me what happened to your car, and if someone is taking care of it.”
It was such a normal thing. A mom looking out for her kid. And seeing how easily Lucas and Kandace got along, how natural their relationship was, made me smile. It was cute and it was sweet.
And I was glad she wasn’t stopping us from talking to him. All the angst and sexiness and everything in between was incredible, but this meant maybe she was ready to admit we would be good for her long term. That Kandace, Eli, and I could last.
We all dug into our food. Kandace poked Lucas as he shoveled eggs into his mouth. “Slow down and eat like a human being.”
His flush was reminiscent of hers. “Mom.” Amazing how much embarrassment could be carried in a single syllable. Lucas swallowed hard and gulped down juice. “Don’t know what’s wrong with my car, but Cash said water pump maybe.”
“Cash?” I repeated.
“So get this, the auto repair place is called Johnny’s, and the guy who owns it is Cash. That’s the kind of shit that’s too implausible to make up.” Lucas grinned.
He had a point.
“I’m just glad it died so close to town,” Kandace said. “And that Xander happened by.”
“I was about to call Triple-A. It wasn’t like I would’ve been stranded.”
The way Lucas was inhaling his food had me reminiscing about the joys of being more than ten years younger. Those thoughts led a little further back to Eli, and I couldn’t help but glance at him. It was almost surreal that after so long, he was here. That we’d both met Kandace. That all three of us were so perfect together.
We wrapped up our breakfast with more random conversation, and Lucas insisted on cleaning up while we moved back into the living room.
When Kandace explained that she and I were waiting on Lyndsay, and were going to doactual work, Lucas twisted his mouth. “It’s Saturday. Boring.”
“Take Eli to Deacon’s,” Kandace suggested. “We didn’t get a chance to go last night, and he might like the basement.”
The face Lucas made was somewhere between horror and humiliation. “Eww. No.”
“Who’s Deacon? What’s in his basement?” I looked between them.
Eli didn’t look confused at all. “That’s the one you said had the basement—”
“Ugh. Gross.” Lucas jammed his fingers in his ears.
That seemed to amuse Eli even more. “You said you wanted to know about the gay stuff.”
“And pretend I didn’t find you both in bedwith my mom.”
“Rumor is, Deacon has a large quantity of sexy antique furniture.” Eli finally filled me in.
“It’s not just a rumor. It’s true.” As we returned to the living room, Kandace grabbed her laptop.
I liked the idea of sexy furniture, regardless of how old it was. “I’m going to have to check that out.”
Lucas shook his head. “I’m going to the bookstore to wait for my car. It should be safe and not nearly so scarring there.”
“I’ll go with Lucas,” Eli said. “Let the two of you work.” The doorbell rang. “Or, I’ll get that.” He crossed the room, and opened the door.
“Hi, I’m looking for Kand…” The woman trailed off as she looked past Eli and her gaze fell on us. “This is not what you told me I was signing up for.” Her pleasant tone shifted to frustrated in a blink.
Kandace furrowed her brow. “I was pretty clear when we talked yesterday.”
