Page 60 of Fauxmance

"Awesome," he repeated and gave me another smile. "It really is good to see you. I'm here if you need me."

Hayden took a seat at one of the tables, and Izzy walked out of the kitchen carrying a tray. The look on her face could only be described as smug.

"Told you he'd come after what he wants."

She had—and Hayden was really here.

That still left one big question mark, however: What did he want? I didn't really have time to think about it. Like I'd told Hayden, people started streaming in only minutes after he arrived. It was dinner time. These were our peak hours atThe Little Spoon, and a lot of individuals and families stopped by for food. A lot. It took time to serve them all. In the back of my head, I thought Hayden might get fed up and leave.

But he didn't.

Sometimes, I thought I could feel his eyes on me, but whenever I looked, he was either chatting with another spooner or checking out the space.

By the time things slowed down enough for me to take my break, over an hour had passed.

"Sorry it took so long," I said, sitting down across from Hayden with two glasses of water. I pushed one over to him. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

"That's okay," he said. "This is a cool place."

"The coolest," I agreed.

He lowered his voice. "This may sound bad. But I didn't realize how many people would need a place like this. I mean, all thosekids?I didn't expect that."

I smiled sadly. "I know. I'm just gladThe Little Spoonexists."

"Yeah, and that there are good people like you who volunteer," he said. "How'd you even find this place?"

"That," I said, "is a story for another day."

Hayden's brows went up. "More secrets? I thought I knew them all already."

"No secret. I just didn't want to bring you down."

"Try me."

"Okay," I said. "Well, I guess you could say we found it because of my dad. He was the best."

Hayden's eyes dimmed. "Was?"

I nodded. "He died eight years ago."

"Magnolia…I don't know what to say." His face had shuttered, and he ran a hand through his hair. "'I'm sorry' isn't enough. But I am so sorry."

"Me, too." I steeled myself and kept going. "Like I said, Dad was the best. We struggled after he died, Mom most of all. She'd lost her soulmate and was suddenly a single parent with herself and two kids to feed. One day, she found a flyer in my dad's desk, and we came here. Joan welcomed us with open arms." I gave a small smile at the memory. "She never let us leave with an empty stomach. And it was like my dad guided us here."

Hayden nodded. "It's special to you."

"Yeah," I said.

"Thanks for telling me."

I shrugged, but honestly, this felt important. I hadn't told anyone that story besides my therapist. Hayden was the first.

"It's cool how you pay it forward."

I waved that off. "Okay, stop stalling. What did you want to talk about?"

He stared at me a moment and then nodded.

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