Page 26 of Finding You
“Earth to Astrid. Are you alright? If you don’t like the food here we can just have coffee and go somewhere else.”
I looked up at him. He was so sweet, and he really wanted to make sure I was comfortable. “No. Just the opposite. Everything looks so good, and I want to try it all.”
“Then get whatever you want.”
“I should get some eggs or something. But this photo of the pancakes looks incredible.”
“I shouldn’t say this. But those pancakes are life changing. My parents used to bring us here after hockey practice on Sunday mornings as kids, and the three of us would have pancake-eating competitions. We would eat until we made ourselves sick. They are that good.”
I smiled. Before I knew it Jackie was back, refilling our coffee cups and whipping out her notepad.
“Astrid, dear, what can I get you?”
“Oh. I think I want the pancakes. But I have a question. It says here the house special is corned beef hash. What’s that?”
Both Declan and Jackie looked at me quizzically. “You’ve never had corned beef hash before?”
“Nope. It looks great in the photo.”
“It’s basically salty meat with potatoes and onions.”
I studied the menu. “Then we are definitely getting that. With eggs over easy.”
“Would you like an English muffin? We make them in house,” Jackie asked, pen poised at her notepad.
“I thought they were made in factories.”
“Nope, homemade, kid.”
This place was better than I thought. Good thing I promised Nora I would go to Krav Maga class with her tomorrow.
Declan smirked “and we’ll share a stack of blueberry pancakes too.” He winked at me and I blushed down to my toes.
“And two buttered English muffins!” I blurted, slightly embarrassed by my appetite.
Jackie smirked at us. “Coming right up. Let me go take care of that table over there and I’ll be back to chat.” She patted Declan on the head, and I was shocked that any human being on earth could get away with that.
“Thank you for sharing,” I said.
“It's a good idea. Like a real couple,” he added, sipping his black coffee. I couldn’t tell if he was disgusted by my appetite or impressed. I decided it didn’t matter. One of the great things about a fake relationship was I didn’t have to stress about all this little stuff.
Before I could even take another sip of coffee, Jackie came back and rested her hip on our table. “How did you two lovebirds meet?”
Declan and I looked at each other. I sat up straight. “We are neighbors. I am staying at my aunt’s cottage across the street from Declan’s house.”
“Wait. You are Connie’s niece?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, sweetheart, what a small world. Now that I think of it I think she mentioned her niece was coming to stay.”
Declan piped in. “And I took one look at her and invited her over for dinner.”
Jackie looked shocked. “You invited her to your house for dinner?”
“Yes, ma'am. And I impressed her with my cooking.”
“He sure did. I can’t cook at all,” I said, shrugging.
