Page 139 of Paper Hearts

WHEN SHE TOLD HIM SHE LOVED HIM

The restaurant isn’t far from his apartment and near the water in downtown Mobile. It’s a small brick building with a flat roof and a black sign that reads Bob’s Downtown Restaurant.

They seat us outside as the storm begins to move inland off the coast. It’s still miles out, but nearby.

Ender watches it, the wind blowing his hair in his face as he sits across from me.

Eddie finds the brick bench outside more inviting than her seat and sits near our table, talking to an older man Ender said hello to when we came inside. She stands up on the bench, tracing the painted display on the window with her fingertips.

“When’s her birthday?”

“March seventh.”

“Wow. Close to yours.”

“I can’t believe you remember that.”

Sadness returns to his eyes. “I remember more than you know.”

Ender smiles at the waitress who brings ice water for us and a beer for him. Apparently he comes here a lot because he didn’t order that yet.

“Would you like one?” he asks, the waitress lingering, her eyes on Eddie.

I search Ender’s face as he runs his tongue across his bottom lip, setting the beer down. It’s damn near seductive and I can’t focus on anything but his tongue. “Uh, sure.” I motion toward his beer. “Whatever he’s having.”

The waitress smiles at Ender and nods to Eddie. “Is she yours, End? She looks like you.”

End?She calls him fucking End? I never do and she gets to? Jealousy swirls in my veins. I never called him that because his dad does and he hates his father.

I’m not sure whether he doesn’t recognize his name being shortened, doesn’t care, or has moved past caring. I don’t know though because Roman called him E and he freaked out on him.

His eyes don’t move from Eddie. “Yeah, she’s mine.”

The waitress watches Eddie too. “Wow, I didn’t know you had a daughter.”

I’m waiting for him to say, “Me either,” and out me for keeping her from him, even though I technically didn’t.

Ender chuckles, running his hand through his hair but doesn’t say anything else to her.

I glance at her for the first time. She’s pretty. Tall, slender figure with long blonde hair that’s down to her waist, wide brown eyes, and golden skin. She walks away from us and I slide my stare to Ender.

He’s still not looking at me but watching Eddie closely as she teeters on the edge of the bench. Thankfully she scoots closer to the window and continues tracing the painted glass with her fingers. I really hope she doesn’t lick it.

Ender clears his throat and reaches for his beer. “I know you heard her.”

“What?” I ask.

His expression is unreadable. “When she called me End.”

I nod. “Do you let people call you that now?”

“No.” His jaw tightens, and I see that same expression he always gets when people call him End. Theo did it and I know it’s a reminder for him. “Not if I can help it.”

“You know her?” I try so hard to remain unfazed by it, but I imagine the jealousy is written on my face. Back when we were younger, I always felt like I didn’t know him. And I know this is different, but the reminder sends a stab to my chest and my stomach fluttering with nerves.

“Just from coming here,” he assures me. “Nothing else.”

“She’s not one of the women you….” My voice trails off.

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