Page 44 of Zimyra

I chuckle. “Those first two things sound just like my mother.”

“She bakes?”

“Yes—the best pies you’ll ever taste. And she likes to crochet as well.”

Our salmon tacos arrive right on time because this lil’ alcohol is doing nothing to tame the rumble in my stomach. I take a bite right away. “Oh,” I moan. “This is so good. Mmm. Oh—”

“Do you always moan when you eat?”

I glance up at him and smile, quickly grabbing a napkin to cover my mouth. “No. I’m just hungry.” After I finish chewing, I decide to answer his question and say, “Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family. They are the most important people in my life.”

“Do you have a big family?”

“Uh…yes?”

“You’re not sure?”

“Okay. I have my mother, my brothers, my cousins—we’re all pretty close.”

“No sisters?”

“No. I have two older brothers—twins—and yes, they’re overprotective. If they knew I was here with you right now, I’d get the third degree, and so would you.”

“That’s nothing for me. I live for the third degree,” he says, then takes a bite of the taco.

I bet you do.

I say, “So, one’s a doctor. The other is a firefighter.”

“And they say twins are alike. Their professions are on opposite ends of the job spectrum.”

“Right. They’re nothing alike, and I mean nothing. They’re identical in looks, yes, but their personalities are not.”

“I take it they have a history of harassing your boyfriends.”

I glare at him.

“I wasn’t suggesting thatIwas your boyfriend. It was just a question.”

“They like to vet whoever I talk to.”

“But that works both ways, right? You didn’t do the same for them?”

“For Zander, I didn’t have to. He married his best friend, Alyssa. They’d known each other for years. Shoot, she was already a part of the family before they even decided they loved each other—you know—likethat. And as for Zavier, he met Nykendy when she brought her son into his practice one day and, as they say, the rest is history.”

“That’s the little boy you were babysitting this morning.”

“Yeah.”

“So, he’s Zavier’s stepson?”

“Yes, and no. Zavier has never referred to Kaden as his stepson even though that’s who he is. I can attest to the attachment Zavier has to Kaden. I’ve never seen him that way with another child. So, in answer to your question, Kadenishis son. I think he loved little Kaden before he fell in love with Nykendy.”

Axel nods. “And then there’s you.”

“Yep. Then there’s me.”

I take a sip of my vodka drink, close my eyes, and vibe out to the music along with the effects of my beverage. It has me mellow and calm as I sway my body to the rhythm. Even with my eyes closed, I can feel Axel’s eyes on me.

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