Page 29 of Jumping In

After another hour of trailingMJ through the bookstore, grabbing a few books for myself along the way, we finally check out and head back to the Jeep. It’s about lunchtime, so I take a chance and, without asking, I drive toward the Olive Garden in Cedar Bend.

“Ooh, I could go for some Italian.” MJ smiles at me as we approach, and I wink at her.

“Too bad it isn’t a Tuesday.” I smirk and turn into the shopping center to park. MJ scrunches her brows together, not getting the reference right away. “You know, because that’s where Este always went on Tuesdays . . .” I wiggle my eyebrows, and my chest bubbles up with joy when she laughs.

“Did you just quote a Taylor Swift song?” I’m grinning from ear to ear as she laughs harder. “Do you even listen to her?”

I shrug. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I wink. She undoes her seatbelt and reaches for the door handle after I’ve parked. “You stay right in that seat, MJ. Just give me a sec.”

“You know I can get out on my own, right?” she asks, but I’m already around the car, helping her out and leading her toward the restaurant.

“I know, doesn’t mean you have to. Just let me be a gentleman, m’kay?”

She nods and walks toward the entrance. Unable to hold back, I gently place my hand on her lower back and guide her. When we reach the door,I hop in front of her and open it. “After you, gorgeous.”

I bite back a smile when I see her cheeks heat as we walk in together. We’re able to get a table right away since it’s slow and we both sit and peruse the menus in silence. Once we place our orders, a comfortable silence settles in. I’m fiddling with the napkin in my lap and adjust my seat, accidentally kicking MJ under the table. She winces, reaching down to rub her shin.

“Sorry!” I quickly apologize, feeling like shit for hurting her.

“You’re fine, I think you actually mostly kicked the pole.” She giggles quietly, which puts me at ease.

I look down at the table and then back around the restaurant when she finally breaks the silence again. “So, Blake and Austin’s restaurant. I don’t know much, but it sounds pretty cool.”

I nod, “Yeah, it’s cool. They already have a spot picked out if they can get the deal to go through.”

“Right, the abandoned restaurant next to the shop. How are they affording that?”

I scoff in response, because how else would they afford it other than with their parents’ money? “Oh, you know, their parents are loaded, so I’m sure they’ll be getting help.”

She nods in understanding, but I don’t know if she really gets it. Her family has never had money troubles, much like the twins. Family money comes in handy when it’s plentiful. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice when we were kids. Either MJ’s family or the twins’ paid my way most of the time. They always included me, andI appreciate that. But now that we’re older, I swear my friends don’t know what it means to work for something.

“Do you know when they’re planning to open? It seems like it’s pretty early in the process and they have a lot to do,” MJ says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I’m not sure. The deal on the building could take a few months. But I know Blake is already trying to work out a menu. They’ll likely have some renovations once they get the building, but I think they’re trying to get as much done in the meantime as possible.” Maybe I don’t give them enough credit, now that I think about it. They have been working on things on the side. Blake has mentioned menu items and ideas for an overall vibe.

“That doesn’t sound too bad. Renovations will probably take a while, though?” she asks while reaching for her water.

“Yeah,” I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. “The building has been empty for a while, so it probably needs a lot of work. I’m sure they’ll be fine though, and money won’t be an issue.”

“That’s good. Are you . . . jealous?” she asks.Fuck. Did I say that a little too snidely?

“No, of course not. I think I’m just frustrated.” Exasperation bleeds into my voice. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for them. But it’s frustrating to see them basically have a business handed to them when I’ve been busting my ass at the shop and it’s still my dad’s.”

“Mac. Have you talked to your dad about that? I mean, you’ve been working at the shop, practically running it on your own, based on what you shared earlier for quite some time. Do you think your dad would be up for transferring the business to you? He’s just the name on the sign, right?”

I mull over her idea. I actually hadn’t thought of Dad signing the business over to me, but with the case coming up, it might not even be the best idea. I shake my head. “I don’t know. After everything my dad’s been through, don’t you think he’d want to have something to still be proud of?” I always kind of figured Dad would want the shop in his name until he was gone.

“You don’t think he has something to be proud of?” MJ’s tone is serious.

I tilt my head, urging her to continue.

“Don’t you think he’s proud of you and all you’ve done for your family?”

“How could he be?” I ask, raising my voice and instantly regretting it. “Sorry, just—” I lower my voice back down, “how could he be proud of me? A high school dropout and now a criminal to boot.” I feel bad the moment the words leave my lips. It’s not exactly fair to pin that on my parents, and I know they are both proud of me for all I’ve done for our family. It’s likely the constant reminders from people in town that I’m a criminal, seeping into the conversation with MJ right now.

She sighs and leans back in her seat, nothing to say in response and I should have expected it. We sit in silence for a while until the server brings over a basket of breadsticks. Both reaching for one, our fingers brush and a jolt of electricity shoots up my arm. MJ pulls back quickly like the same electricity shocked her.

“How’s your brother? I haven’t seen him in town,” MJ smoothly changes the subject then takes a bite of her breadstick.

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