Page 33 of Rebel Summer

“No.” He shook his head emphatically. “I want Marco touching my food. I want you to bring it to me.”

“Okay, but it sure would be a shame to have one of my long hairs you used to find so annoying end up on your plate.” I smiled sweetly at him. His eyes drifted upward as he considered my wayward curls.

“Eh, I’m willing to risk it.”

I sidled up to him. “Good to know. What can I get for you then? Gator and eggs?”

“I’ve got a busy day, so I’d like you to keep the coffee coming. Just you, though. And I’d like some bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns.”

“Great,” I said. I couldn’t blame him for his order. The cafe was famous for its all-day breakfast as well as its selection of homemade syrups.

Before I could turn and leave, he added, “Oh, and could you put a little cheese on top of those eggs?”

“Sure.” I made to turn around, but his voice stopped me—again.

“And can I get some toast?”

Slight pause while I inhaled a deep breath. “Yeah.”

He waited two beats before adding, “Are you going to ask me what kind?”

Dax had a death wish. So it was strange the way my body went into a chokehold to hide the smile suddenly wanting to escape my lips. If I broke, that meant he won, and I couldn’t allow that.

With the fakest of fake smiles on my face, I asked pleasantly, “What kind would you like?”

“White. Light on the butter.”

“Light on butter,” I repeated softly, pretending to write on an imaginary pad of paper.

His face cracked as a smile broke, and for a second, I could only stare at him, helpless as the lines on his face morphed into something…kind of sweet when he looked at me.

I refrained from adding any hair to his food—but just barely. I was still new at this job, and I didn’t want it to get back to the judge that my behavior was a problem. My behavior was never the problem. That was what hurt so badly about this arrangement. Even though I wasn’t going to add it to his food, I very much enjoyed the idea that he might not know that.

With a grand flourish, I set his breakfast before him on the table.

“I hope you enjoy all the parts of your food.”

A satisfied feeling settled over me as I watched him double-check his plate before taking the first bite.

Once Dax left, the cafe became much more relaxed. Near the end of my shift, Cat, Jane, and another friend, Holland, came in and sat at one of my tables in the back. My friends were each striking beauties. So much so that if I hadn’t had a lifetime of memories with two of them, I would have probably felt self-conscious in their presence.

“Hey, girls,“ I said, glancing around the cafe to make sure it was slow enough before I nudged Cat over and sat down next to her.

“Busy today?” Jane asked, flipping her long brown hair over her shoulder. She wore the same floral dress she had lent me for my court date. It did look better on her. She was pure sunshine and the corals and sunset yellows from the dress amplified that fact.

“It was. I’m glad you guys came after the rush so I could chat.”

“Can you take a break after you put in an order for us?” Cat grinned over at me, her blonde hair tied up with a ribbon. I groaned good-naturedly but stood up. “Cheeseburger?” I confirmed.

“Yup,” Cat said, “and tell Marco not to skimp on the fries this time.”

“Same for me,” Jane said.

“Pancakes for me, “ Holland supplied with a smile across her heart shaped face. Holland was an island transplant after I’d left. She had grown close to Cat in my absence and though I’d only met her a handful of times, she was funny and insightful and seemed to fit in but not completely take my place with my friends, which I appreciated.

I put their orders in, along with a cheeseburger and side salad for me, before telling Jean I was officially taking my lunch break. She waved me off, and I moved to sit back down with the girls.

Cat was eyeing me with interest. “How are things with Dax?”

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