Page 53 of Heartbeats & Highways

“Yeah, since we all know Homer is a grump,” Brielle added. “How’s Savage?”

“Perfect,” I said with a sigh. He gave me a ride to and from work every day. And he’d spent every night the past week in my bed.

“Aww,” Jazz said with a smile. “I love the beginning stages of a relationship. All sex and talking.”

There was more sex than talking with Savage, but I was definitely not complaining.

“I heard about what happened at Spurs,” Brielle said. “That must’ve been intense.”

“I kinda wish I’d been there,” Jazz said.

“You didn’t miss anything,” I stated.

“Yeah, because you got Savage to walk away, right?” Brielle asked. “That’s what Roman told me.”

“Savage walked away from a fight? Interesting,” Jazz murmured, peering at me.

With the Jackson siblings, it was apparent that my private life wasn’t going to remain so private.

Duly noted.

Virgil appeared from the back. “Aw, you guys brought us lunch? Awesome. I’m starving.”

Brielle handed him a container. “Your favorite.”

“What’s your favorite?” I inquired.

“Grilled cheese with tomato and sweet potato fries, and a side of chipotle aioli for dipping.”

I looked at Brielle. “I thought Pie in the Sky was a bakery.”

“It is,” Brielle said. “But Brooklyn expanded it into a café.”

“Ah,” I said in understanding.

“We didn’t know what you liked, so we brought a few sandwiches,” Jazz said.

“Oh, thanks,” I said, feeling grateful and at ease. “That’s nice.”

“Roman gets the BLT.” Brielle looked at the containers that all had shorthand writing on them, found the BLT and set it aside.

“Homer gets the turkey avocado with sprouts.” Jazz rolled her eyes and moved it to the other side of the counter.

“You can have your pick,” Brielle said. “Ham and cheese, chicken pesto, or the caprese.”

“Chicken pesto, please,” I said.

“Awesome,” Jazz said. “That means I get the caprese.”

“And I get the ham and cheese,” Brielle said. “Yay.”

“I’ll wait to eat,” I announced.

“Why?” Brielle asked. “Dig in now while it’s still warm.”

I glanced at Virgil who had already opened his sandwich and was chowing down. “Eat,” he insisted.

The banana had done nothing to satiate me. I was still hungry. My appetite lately had been insane. No doubt all the calories I was burning because of Savage.

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