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Reaching up, she briefly cups my cheek in her hand. The thick gold rings on her fingers are cold against my skin. “Come by tomorrow. I’ll save the makaronia me kima for you.”
“I can’t be sure I’ll make it, so you two should go ahead and have it. I don’t want to be the reason your delicious food goes to waste.”
“Your mom’s cooking never goes to waste, Darius.” My dad winks at me and rubs his still flat stomach. Looking at him, you’d never know how much he can eat. He’s blessed with good genes, and hopefully I’ve inherited them. So far, so good at least.
“Don’t forget about the party,” my mom says, reminding me about my sister Calista’s birthday eight days from now. I’m sure she’ll remind me at least four more times leading up to it too. “Turning thirty is a milestone.”
I smile. “I’ll be sure to wear all black. I’ll grab some black balloons and streamers too.”
My dad chuckles. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”
We all know exactly how much shewill notappreciate that. Calista is ridiculously sensitive about getting older. I’m not sure why because thirty is still so young. But she had dreams of being married with a couple of kids by now.
Pursing her lips, my mom shakes her head. “I really expected to be a grandmother by now. I don’t know what all my children have against marriage.”
My mom’s well-known desire to be a grandmother doesn’t help the situation any.
“And on that note, I need to get going,” I joke. I don’t need her to start in on me and my lack of a girlfriend. I don’t have the time or energy to devote to a relationship.
Tugging up the cuff on my button down, I glance at the watch on my wrist. Shit. I’m running behind schedule. “I really do need to leave. Come on. I’ll walk you both out.”
CHAPTER2
EVIE
Fifteen minutes to closing.
My eyes sweep from the clock on the wall to my new friend Brutus sitting next to me. “I know we just met, but I feel like I can share with you. Maybe it’s your kind eyes or the way you make me feel like I’m the only woman here. Whatever the reason, today’s been a shitshow. And no, I’m not exaggerating or being dramatic.”
Brutus gives my leg a supportive nudge and I take it as a sign he wants me to continue.
“Does it ever seem like the universe is testing you to see how much crap you can take? Because that’s what I’m starting to think. I’ve always tried to be an optimist, but I’m not feeling it today, my friend. No siree. Can I call you my friend? Are you okay with that, or am I taking liberties I shouldn’t be?”
“Uh… hello,” a deep voice interrupts.
My head swings toward the open door and I find a tall man moving toward the reception counter. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I don’t want to interrupt your conversation with… uh…” his words trail off and he rubs the back of his neck.
Oh jeez. This guy thinks I was talking to myself.
“I wasn’t talking to myself,” I clarify.
He holds up a hand. “No need to explain. I do it sometimes too.”
“Then I guess that makes you the strange one.” I laugh.
His dark eyebrows lifting, he aims a questioning look my way. “Yeah, sure. I’m here to pick up my dog.”
“Let me guess, Brutus?”
He nods.
“I was starting to wonder if he was coming home with me tonight,” I say.
He rakes a hand through his longish hair. “Yeah, sorry about that. I got here as soon as I could.”
Slipping from the metal stool, I grab Brutus’s leash and lead him around to the front of the counter.
