Page 42 of Always Been Yours

“Oh, good god. What was his name again?” Lyp leans forward.

“Adolf?” I contemplate. It was something that started with an A and washorrible.

“Like I would ever swipe right on a dude named Adolf, no matter how hot he was.” Lexi cringes. “His name is Abaddon.”

A laugh bursts out of Grady and he shakes his head at the absurdity. “That name alone probably caused him so much trauma.”

“What the fuck is wrong with parents?” Calypso mutters.

“That’s a dollar for the swear jar,” Stella says.

Our three heads turn toward her, but Grady doesn’t even look up from his menu.

“Children arealwayslistening,“ is his only response.

“I don’t have any singles,” Calypso looks in her wallet and I’m honestly surprised she’s playing into Stella’s demand. “But give us until the end of the meal… I’m sure all three of us will owe you at least ten.” She throws a wink at her. Stella blushes at the attention but giggles anyway.

“If it wasn’t the name that scared you off, what was wrong with the man?” Grady asks Lexi.

The fact that he’s genuinely invested in her story and a willing participant of this conversation does something funny to the pit of my stomach.

It feels like he could fit into this routine. Not every Sunday—I’ll never be ready to give up all my alone time with Calypso and Lexi—but a normal part of my life regardless.

“Grady, do you prefer boneless or traditional wings?” Lexi asks him in a very serious tone.

Calypso and I know exactly where this is going. And so far, it has been one of her best theories into dating.

“Uhm… this feels like a trick question?” We each keep our faces blank, waiting for his answer. “But I like bone-in wings. Half habanero mango, half garlic parmesan if you want me to be specific.”

Lexi nods her head in approval. “The flavor isn’t important but maybe I should research that next,” she muses.

“Did I pass?” Grady looks at each of us.

“Yes,” I confirm.

He nods his head like he has any idea what’s going on right now.

“There’s something to be said about a person who’s scared to get their hands dirty,” Lexi wags her eyebrows.

“And if they just like boneless more?”

“Then next time we can save time and money and go to McDonald’s for their chicken nuggies.”

“I’m guessing your date did not order traditional wings?”

“No, Grady,” she solemnly shakes her head. “He did not. And that was only the start.”

This is the part of the meal I’ve been dreading the entire time—the end. Grady handed Marcie his card before she had the chance to put the split checks on the table, asking her to put it all on his card. I was the only one who argued but he shot down all my attempts. Lexi and Calypso simply shared an impressed look but kept their mouths shut.

“Well,” he pats Daisy’s head, who crawled into his lap a few minutes ago. “Thanks for letting us sit with you.”

“Thanks for paying,” I add with a begrudging smile.

We don’t break eye contact for a few seconds, and I can’t help but notice all the small changes from the years—the lines around his eyes and the sharp jawline and day-old scruff.

Suddenly I’m pulled back to my childhood when I could’ve happily stared at his perfect face forever.

“We should be getting to the store soon…” Calypso says, and I know she feels guilty to be ruining whatever moment she thinks we might have been having. But there wasn’t amoment. And no reasonfor her to feel bad.

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