Page 7 of Slice

Talking about relationships and men had Faith feeling a little down. Sure, it would be wonderful to have a man interested in her, and she’d dearly love to have sex with someone besides Rocky. He always provided her with a good time, as long as she made sure he had good batteries. But Slice would provide good visualization the next time she used Rocky.

Even if it was platonic, she’d enjoy Slice’s company while he was around visiting LB. A faint cry from the bassinet had Hope jumping up to get him. Despite the circumstances of his birth, LB had a lot of people in his corner. She only hoped he’d be a long-term placement for her, not only because of him, but also for the added benefit of Slice being around.

Chapter Five

Slice got ready to send another text to Faith, postponing coming over again. His plan to bring lunch had blown up in his face. It seemed like the universe was working its hardest to keep him away from LB, the boys, and Faith.

He was covering because of the cook who had broken his leg. Bear had indicated he’d be in after the lunch rush and would cover the rest of the day. Bear had just called and said the gym had a broken pipe, and he and War were heading there to work on it.

Regina was unavailable because she was watching grandkids after the wedding. Slice normally wouldn’t begrudge anyone their time, but today, he actually had somewhere he wanted to be. In the time he’d been at Bluff Creek, everyone had gotten into the habit of calling him to cover everything. Slice loved feeling needed and had enjoyed helping out all over, but today, he wanted to be with the little boy who had carved out a place in his heart.

He might as well get the text out of the way.

Slice: Bad news. Water line break at the gym means I can’t bring lunch. If you want to brave getting out, I’ll cook at the diner for you. I understand if you’d rather stay home.

Faith: If you really don’t mind, I think it would be good for us to get out. My sister Hope and nephew Benji are here, so I’ll come after they leave.

Slice: I’d love to meet your sister and nephew, plus they have to eat too. I probably won’t be able to sit down and eat with you unless we slow down a lot. Have them come too.

Slice waited for Faith’s reply. He’d drop in at their table for a bit if he could, but if a large table came in, then he’d be cooking. He hoped they’d come because he wanted to see them all, but he had this crazy urge to make sure LB was okay. He knew in his heart that Faith was a good woman and would take care of him. But Slice couldn’t stop feeling like there was more to LB’s story and that LB was in danger.

Slice had learned to never ignore his instincts in the military. It had saved him multiple times. Sure, there were times when nothing happened, but Slice wasn’t willing to take a chance with LB, Faith, and the boys.

While he waited on Faith’s reply, he pulled the chicken pieces he’d cut up for nuggets and had been marinating in pickle juiceand milk out of the refrigerator. He’d already prepped the egg wash and the flour mixture he’d be coating them in.

He checked the fryer to make sure it was warming up and then slipped on gloves to move some of the chicken nuggets from the marinating liquid and dropped them into the egg wash. Then he used tongs to drop them into the flour mixture, tossing them in it to coat liberally. Leaving them in there, he pulled his gloves off, covered the pan with the chicken still marinating with plastic wrap, and put the pan back in the refrigerator designated for raw poultry and meat. He covered the egg wash pan and slid it into the same refrigerator.

He quickly cleaned his counter and then checked the time. He wanted the nuggets to be fresh but ready so the first few people didn’t back up his line.

Faith: We’d love to. We’ll plan on being there in thirty minutes. I’d say twenty, but the boys aren’t dressed, and sometimes it takes a while.

Slice grinned at her comment. Watching those boys ooh and aaah over their Christmas gifts had been one of the highlights of his time with them. The wonder they had and knowing how much they appreciated what Faith had done. Slice wished he’d had someone like Faith when he was in the system.

“Order up, Slice,” one of the waitresses said as she put in the order. Slice glanced at the screen above the cooking area. He was glad that their orders were automated because seeing all the orders on the screen together made it easier.

He counted out nuggets for the fryer because his first three were for their special today, which was chicken nuggets with sauce, along with french fries and coleslaw. Tomorrow would be turkey enchiladas because Regina had a deal with a local grocery store the next town over that she’d buy his extra turkeysfrom Thanksgiving or Christmas. Regina got a sale price, and the grocer was able to free up space. Regina had a chicken enchilada recipe that she substituted turkey with when turkey was cheaper. Slice couldn’t tell the difference in the taste, though they told the customers it was turkey. They also offered small taste tests if the customer was hesitant.

Regina’s days with chicken enchilada specials always sold out, and people also ordered them for takeout for their freezers. They could request the enchiladas be uncooked, and they’d come with a card stating how to cook them after removing from the freezer.

Slice put the french fries in the fryer dedicated to fries only. They had three separate fryers: one dedicated only to fries, one for gluten-free flour only, and one for fried chicken, onion rings, etc., that had pieces of the crust break off. Regina didn’t want the fries to get the debris from other food on them.

She and Bear had added a fryer dedicated to gluten-free flour only when one of the kids in town had been diagnosed with celiac disease. There were other precautions they took to make sure the child could eat out like her friends but not get sick.

The MC’s care of others was one of the many reasons he loved being a part of it. He got to ride with his brothers but also felt like he was contributing to others. After serving in the military, he was fortunate to have found the sense of comradery and the service to others he’d missed when he left it.

He finished the meals and plated them, marking them ready to deliver on the screen. Concentrating on the tasks helped him not get nervous about seeing Faith and the kids. Having Micah and Isaiah crawl up into the chair with him had been how Slice had imagined families were. They were such sweet kids in the short amount of time he’d been around them. He was thankful they’d been placed with Faith. He glanced at the clock, then toward the front door. They should be arriving soon.

Faith unbuckled LB from his car seat while Micah got himself out. Benji and Hope had driven separately because Faith’s sedan wouldn’t hold all the kids and adults. Hope was already helping Isaiah out of his booster seat’s harness.

Faith’s stomach was churning with nervousness. Slice had invited them, so she knew he wanted them there. She just wasn’t sure if he only wanted to see LB and she was just the bonus person, or did he actually want her here for herself? Hope had told her to take a chance, but Faith wasn’t a risk-taker. She was methodical and considered all the options before she made a decision. Slice was a huge decision. He was such a nice man, but she had a hard time concentrating on that when all she wanted to do was explore the tattoos on his skin. His full lips had her imagining how they’d feel against hers. But that small part of her wondered if he actually wanted her, or would he be like every other man and try to change her?

“Enough. Quit worrying, and let’s get in there and have some nuggets,” Hope admonished, holding the door open for the boys to go in first.

Faith nodded at her sister and carried LB in his car seat into Regina’s Roadside Refuge. Living in a small town and having a good diner was a plus. Although she tried to fix the boys homemade nutritious meals, sometimes she needed a break.

Today was one of those times. She didn’t sleep well last night, tossing and turning, thinking about Slice just down the hall.

She vacillated between hoping he did like her the way she was feeling toward him and chastising herself to quit dreaming of things she couldn’t have. Sometimes she wondered if a man would ever love her and all her introverted mess of a life. Sure, she taught school and even volunteered sometimes, but if she had a choice, she’d stay home and read. She didn’t have a lot of friends because some of the teachers were just mean—two of them especially.

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