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The waitress returned with their drinks.
“Do you ever drink coffee?” he asked, motioning to her tea.
She shook her head. “Not really.”
“That explains it.”
Her forehead wrinkled.
“Your coffee was pretty terrible at the inn.” He chuckled.
Her eyes grew wide. She looked so much like Zoey in that moment. All except the eyes. Those grey orbs of Zoey’s matched his. A pang of longing he’d never experienced before grew inside him.
“Maybe it’s not up to your snobby tastes. But I’ll have you know guests love my coffee.” She crossed her arms in front of her.
“Taste it tomorrow morning, then taste some that I made and tell me what you think.” He shrugged.
“Oh, it’s on.” She smirked.
“Mr. Atlas?” Zoey’s sweet voice interrupted their challenge.
“Yeah, sweetie?”
“Wouldn’t it be cool if it rained pizza whenever we wanted?”
“So cool,” he agreed.
“And then snowed ice cream for dessert.” She smiled, her face lighting up.
“I’m guessing that means you want ice cream for dessert?” He laughed.
She nodded vigorously. “Yes, peas!”
“You’re going to turn into an ice-cream cone one of these days because you eat so much,” Jasmine teased.
“Can I have sprinkles as hair?” Zoey asked.
Jasmine giggled. “Oh, the mind of a child.”
Atlas wiped a hand over his face. He was tired in all the best ways. A long night of making love, the early-morning events, then an afternoon in the sun and sand. Now dinner with two people who were by far his favorites. To say he was attached was an understatement. A stranger walking by might assume they were a family. And something about the idea just fit. Monday wasn’t the end. This was real.
After their meal, Atlas threw enough cash on the table to pay the bill and tip. He stood, stretching his tired muscles. A small group of women cut their eyes towards Jasmine, speaking loud enough for them to hear.
“I can’t believe she’d use her child to take advantage of a man like that. Look at him. Someone should tell him what a whore she really is.”
He clenched his fists, turning towards them. Jasmine’s hand shot out and grabbed his.
“Don’t,” she pleaded.
The woman continued, “My son said she came on to him. She was the reason he and Abby almost broke up in high school. Now she wants to break up their marriage?”
“Disgusting,” another woman agreed.
Jasmine’s hand tightened. “Let’s just go.”
“You can’t let people talk about you like that and spread lies.”
She looked down and then grabbed Zoey’s hand. She stood, turning to face him. “Everyone is going to have an opinion about me. And in this town, there’s more who agree with them than there are on my side. But the only opinion about me that matters is my own. Only I know what I’ve been through, and why I did the things I’ve done. They aren’t worth the energy.” She led Zoey out the front door.
