Page 104 of Insatiable Hunger

Nadene’s is a little, quaint, hole-in-the-wall cafe nestled on the corner of Main and Fifth, next door to the post office and across from the hardware store. Mom and I have been coming here since I was a kid. The owner, Nadene, is this tiny Norwegian woman who is like a grandma to me.

According to Mom, Nadene used to be close with my grandma before she died. She even used to babysit Mom from time to time when my grandma had to work a late shift. Nadene used to let us eat for dirt cheap when I was younger, when money was tight.

This place feels like home, and the food home cooked.

Mom sighs, setting the menu down. “I guess I’ll do the same.”

“You get a lot done yesterday?” I ask her, regarding the bar.

“I did!” Her whole face lights up. I love it. “Zeke helped a ton, and then I spent half the night putting stuff away. Ran to the hardware store and picked up the paint for today, and supplies. Then went back to the bar and set up all those new tables.”

“Who helped you with that?”

“What?” Her face flushes.

“Who helped you put all those together?” I repeat the question. “That’s a lot of work.”

“Oh…” She laughs in a way that lets me know she’s nervous. Which is odd. “My friend helped.”

“That’s nice. What friend?”

Her gaze meets mine before darting down at her water like it’s the most interesting cup she’s ever seen. “Teddy,” she all but whispers before bringing the glass to her lips and taking a sip, condensation dripping onto the table.

My brows jump as a grin splits on my face. “Teddy, the tennis instructor? From the club?”

“Yes, Elias,” she scoffs. “Is it really that big of a deal?”

“No,” I reply, shaking my head. “But your peculiar behavior about the topic is. So, spill.”

“Elias, I am your mother. We don’t gossip about boys like a couple of girls in the courtyard.”

“So, you’re dating, then?” I can’t hide the smirk. She’s acting so weird. I’ve never seen her like this.

She glares at me before throwing her hands in the air dramatically. “Yes, okay? But it’s not a big deal.” I open my mouth to grill her further, but she holds up a hand, cutting me off. “Nope. Enough about me. What’s new with you?”

Now, it’s my turn to be weird. While Mom has come around to Zeke and I being together, it’s still a little awkward to talk to her about our relationship sometimes.What’s newis he asked me to move in with him, but saying that feels uncomfortable. So, I coward out and go with, “Not a whole lot.”

I hope my tone comes off as light and convincing, but the way she purses her lips tells me I didn’t do a very good job. She takes another route, asking instead, “How’s Zeke?”

“Mom, you saw him yesterday. And the day before that. You’ve seen him more than me this week. You know how he is.” And then I add, simply because I’m uncomfortable and joking makes me feel better, “Hell, I’m about to think you’re playing an Uno reverse on me and stealing my man back.”

“Oh my gosh,” she mutters, swatting at my hand as we both laugh. “You can talk to me, you know. I know things were weird for a while, but you can still share things with me like you would about any other relationship.”

“I know. I just… I worry about upsetting you,” I admit, voice meek.

“Honey, you won’t.” She wraps her soft, warm hand over mine, squeezing. “Yes, I had a hard time with this. I felt very hurt and betrayed by you both, but I’ve had plenty of time to adjust. It’s clear as day how much you both care about the other. You and him, you were meant to be, and someone was always bound to be collateral damage, whether it be me or someone else. I’m okay with it,” she assures me. “I really, really am. So, please tell me.”

One of my brows lifts as I study her. “You already know, don’t you?”

Shrugging a shoulder, she shakes her head. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“He told you, didn’t he? When? Last night?”

She laughs, and it’s contagious. “Okay, yes, he did. He was nervous and didn’t know if you’d say yes.”

“He wasnervous?” That I can’t picture.

“He was,” she confirms. “Don’t tell him I told you this, but he also told me he asked Katie, too, before he asked me.”

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