Page 30 of Life After You

“Oh, I know it was the shit,” she teases, nudging me lightly with her shoulder. “But I didn’t realize it was still your bedtime fashion statement.” I raise an eyebrow, smirking. “Your just jealous you don’t have matching pajamas. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about yourMy Little Ponyobsession. Her laugh comes again, and this time its louder, fuller, and I realize I’d do just about anything to keep hearing it.

“Okay, you got me there.” She says, shaking her head. “But at least I outgrew mine.”

“Oh, so now you’re too good for nostalgia?” I mock, crossing my arms dramatically. “Next you’re going to tell me you don’t know the entire theme song anymore.” She gasps, clutching her chest in mock offense. “Excuse me, I could still sing the whole thing, backwards and blindfolded, if I had to.” I chuckle, the sound blending with the faint hum of traffic down the street. God, it feels like old times—the weight of everything hasn’t completely crushed us yet. Her smile falters for a split second, and I catch it before she schools her face again.

“I missed this,” I say softly, the words slipping out before I can stop them. She looks at me, her eyes searching mine. “Me too.” She admits, her voice quiet. For a moment the air between us feels heavy again, like it’s holding all the things we’ve left unsaid.

“So, tell me about the Bruja you found yourself working for?”

Mac shoots me a look. “Be nice. Patty is the best.”

Be nice. Probably a solid plan unless I want to wake up covered in warts. Or worse.

“I’m not arguing with that. She looked into my soul at a glance—powerful and wise.” I pause, eyeing her. “So, what’s the story? How’d you end up working for her?”

Mac exhales, her fingers toying with the hem of her sleeve. “I kind of… stumbled into Patty’s. Literally. I was a mess when I got here, Logan.” Her voice softens, and my chest tightens.

She hesitates, then shakes her head like she’s brushing something off. “I was looking for work, and it turns out, people don’t really want to hire someone with no past references and no clue where they’re headed next.”

I clench my jaw, hating the thought of her struggling alone.

“But Patty?” Mac huffs a small laugh. “She took one look at me, made me sit down, and put a plate of food in front of me before I could even ask for a job.”

Of course she did.

“She just… knew,” Mac continues. “I don’t know how else to explain it. She sees things in people, beyond what they show the world.” Her lips tilt into a small smile. “She asked if I needed a fresh start. When I said yes, she handed me an apron and told me my shift started the next morning.”

I huff out a breath, shaking my head. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” Mac shrugs. “And later that day, she pointed me toward The Rosewood. Said I needed a place where I wouldn’t feel like a guest but part of a home.” She pauses, her expression unreadable. “She was right.”

I study her, the way her fingers tap lightly against her thigh. “She looked after you.”

“She still does,” Mac says. “She watches out for everyone who steps into that diner, but with me… I don’t know, it’s like she sees the cracks I try to cover.” She shakes her head, laughing softly. “She doesn’t let me get away with much. If I come in looking tired, she’ll shove a cup of tea in my hands before I even sit down. If I get lost in my head, she’ll snap me out of it before I spiral.”

Sounds like she’s done more for Mac in a few months than I managed in years.

“She’s a good woman, Logan,” Mac says, her voice softer now. “She gave me a chance when I needed it the most.”

I swallow against the lump in my throat. “Yeah,” I murmur. “Sounds like she’s got a good read on people.”

Mac nods, smiling at some distant thought. “Yeah. She really does.”

I watch her for a second, taking in the way she tucks her hair behind her ear, the ease in her posture when she talks about this woman who gave her a place to land. And for the first time since I found her, I realize—she didn’t just survive. She found something. A home. A little piece of stability.

And it’s thanks to Patty.

“Alright,” I say, clearing my throat. “I gotta meet this Bruja properly. And, more importantly—”I point a finger at her.“—I need more of those eggs.”

Mac laughs, shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah. Come on, city boy. I’ll bring you back later and get you fed. You should try her brownies if you think the eggs are good. I could eat a whole tray full.”

I narrow my eyes. “Now that sounds like a challenge.”

Mac smirks. “Trust me, you’d lose. Patty’s brownies are the real deal.”

I can’t help but grin. “Guess I’ll just have to see for myself.”

The distant rumble of the taxi’s engine breaks the spell. Mac clears her throat, turning to glance down the street. “Looks like our chariot awaits.”

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