Page 14 of Fade With Me

Oh, this guy. He couldn’t be serious.

I snorted, rolling my eyes so hard I nearly gave myself whiplash. “Your mom probably says that—but, you know, she’s contractually obligated.”

He grinned, a hint of playful arrogance creeping into his words. “She wasn’t the only one. Plenty of women have appreciated my…charm. Darling.”

I leaned in close, voice dropping into mock seriousness. “And let’s not forget, your grandmother’s opinion doesn’t exactly count either—darling.” I dragged out the word, making sure he caught how much fun I was having.

I spun on my heel, heading back to the kitchen, but his laughter followed me. It lingered, light and easy, a thread I wasn’t quite ready to cut.

Moving into the prep space to grab Ezekiel’s meal, I was met with Sal’s sharp remarks while Larry weighed in from his station at the grill.

“Who does he think he is, coming in here dressed like that? C’mon, it’s a hole-in-the-wall diner, not the Ritz-Carlton,” Sal sneered. “A poser, flaunting a fake wallet to impress women.”

Larry let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he glanced up. Amusement danced in his eyes, and a smirk curled at the corners of his mouth. He leaned back slightly, the sound of sizzling sausage blending with the steady hum of the kitchen.“No doubt. I bet it works like a charm,” he said, his voice rich with dry humor as the crackle of heat filled the air around him.

Sal reclined against the counter, crossing his arms over his filthy, no-longer-white shirt, the amusement on his face darkening. “Worked on Bryn, didn’t it?” he mused, a grin pulling at his lips. “He wasdroolingover her dress, saying it looked—”

“Excuse me?” I cut him off, my voice sharp with annoyance. “I’m standing right here.”

Sal raised an eyebrow, his smile stretching wider when he saw me. He uncrossed his arms, giving a lazy shrug as if I were an afterthought. “Oops, my bad, Brynie. Didn’t see you there. My mistake.”

The apology was as empty as a politician’s promise.

Larry met my gaze, color creeping into his cheeks. “Sorry, Bryn.”

I swung the doors open, spinning back to face them. “Grow up! You’re both acting like children.”

I set Ezekiel’s plate in front of him, the savory aroma of the pancakes wafting into the air. His eyes lit up with appreciation.

“Thanks, they smell amazing!” he exclaimed, already reaching for his silverware. As he took his first bite, he looked up. “So, about that nature you mentioned—where’s the best place to hike around here? Do you have a favorite trail?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering. “Yeah, I do. But it’s not exactly beginner-friendly. The trail’s barely even there since hardly anyone uses it anymore. It's called Daisy’s Meadow...though the locals call it Dead Man’s Trail,” I added, keeping my tone flat and matter-of-fact.

He looked me over, sizing me up. “Dead Man’s Trail, huh? So, what—you’re an adrenaline junkie?”

I shook my head, a dry laugh escaping. “Definitely not, but the waterfall at the end—totally worth it.”

He narrowed his eyes, a subtle curve teasing the edge of his mouth as he shifted in his seat and leaned in, like he was about to ask me my deepest, darkest secret. “So, you’re not interested in the danger?” His voice dropped to a low murmur, the words shutting out everythingelse around us. “The unpredictability doesn’t excite you…not even a little?”

I tapped my fingers against my arm, letting the question roll around in my mind, intrigued by the thought. “Okay, maybe just a little,” I confessed. “But mostly, I like to imagine I’m on one of those survival shows—completely alone, roughing it in the wild, living off the land. Honestly? I’m pretty confident I’d make it to the end.”

He opened his mouth, like he was going to argue, but then gave a slow nod. “You know what? I respect that.”

I pointed toward the convenience store across the street. “If you’re looking for something less...risky, they probably have a guidebook for the easier trails. You’ll still get a great view, just minus the whole ‘possible death’ part.”

His eyes darted to the store, then back to me, expression brimming with self-assurance. “And where’s the adventure in that?”

This city boy’s way out of his league, but who was I to rain on his parade? If he wanted to tackle Dead Man’s Trail, more power to him.

I jabbed a finger in his direction, shifting my weight forward with a teasing lilt in my voice. “Exactly.”

His chin rested in his palm, fingers drumming lightly on the table as he looked at me. “Any words of wisdom to impart?”

I eyed him carefully, a touch impressed he was actually considering it. “I’d recommend bringinga friend,” I said cautiously. “Hiking that trail alone isn’t the best idea.”

He nodded, brushing soft curls out of his eyes with a lazy sweep before rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, of course. No-brainer.”

His bright blue eyes locked onto mine, holding me captive. Time seemed to slow—just the two of us, suspended in that moment. I couldn’t shake the feeling, like I’d stared into those eyes before, like the sky itself had opened up to me in the same way. There was something hauntingly familiar about him, a quiet ease that settled over me, as if we’d always known each other.

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