Page 87 of Distant Shores
A steaming plate appeared in front of me just a few minutes later, and I closed my notebook and shucked it aside.
Craning my neck, I looked up at him, and the same resting smile was there.
God. Was this guy for real?
“I’m going to go get Delly up,” he said. “No one likes cold pancakes.”
I watched him go, my gaze definitely not fixed on his uneven gait, but… elsewhere.
Less than a minute later, Adair herded a sleep-rumpled Adeline into the room. She yawned widely as she took the seat beside me, a scowl settling into place instead of her usual smile.
“Mornin’,” she grumbled.
That was exactly how I used to wake up naturally each day—as if it were the least natural thing in the world. The cruelest fate.
I still did, really. I just tried not to show it.
I felt Adair hovering behind me, something in my body alerting me to his presence. Looking over my shoulder, I tracked him as he limped back into the kitchen and grabbed two more plates of food. He set one in front of hissister and one in the empty spot beside her, then his hazel eyes snapped up to meet mine, his expression warm.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “This looks great.”
“You’re welcome.” He cocked his head at me, a teasing ghost of a smile that brought my attention to the little divot in his chin. “Honey or syrup?”
I sucked in my cheeks, biting back a smile before answering. “Syrup.”
He looked pleased as he grabbed the syrup from the counter and put it on the table. Adeline reached for it immediately, glaring at her pancakes as she drowned them. “I can’t believe it’s raining on my first Saturday living at the beach.”
Oh. Maybe there was more to her attitude than her just not being a morning person.
“I know,” Adair said sympathetically. “But it looks like it might clear up later.”
“Stop looking at the bright side,” Adeline shot back. “Let me wallow.”
Yep. I was seeing more and more of a kindred spirit in Adeline today.
Adair and I shared a look over his sister’s head. The amusement in his gaze didn’t match his serious tone as he replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
I tore my gaze away and poured some syrup over the stack, inhaling deeply when it hit the warm pancakes. I loved the smell of maple, and Miss Lenny’s crew had provided us with real stuff. Without second-guessing it, I pulled out my phone and took a quick picture of my plate and then set it back down on the table on top of my notebook.
I glanced up to find Adair watching me with that same amused expression, but then Adeline sighed heavily besideme, drawing our attention as she pushed her pancake pieces around forlornly with her fork.
“Do you want to come to my class this morning?” I asked her.
She sighed again and started stabbing her pancakes aggressively. “I don’t have tap shoes yet.”
“You wouldn’t need them,” I said. “This morning is ballroom.”
She dropped her fork onto the plate with a clatter and gasped so loudly that I actually jumped in my chair, my hand flying to my chest.
“Ballroom dancing?!” she squealed. “Oh my God,yes.”
“Lord have mercy, Delly,” Adair said, whipping his glasses off and rubbing his eyes before putting his glasses back on. “You trying to give us heart attacks?”
She ignored him, turning in her seat to face me, her eyes suddenly awake and alert. “Should I wear something like that?” she asked, gesturing to my outfit.
“Umm… wear whatever you want. As long as you can move in it.”
She studied me for another second before picking her fork back up and muttering to herself about the outfit options she’d brought. I turned my attention back to my pancakes, too, taking my time with each delicious bite. Adeline started peppering me with questions about my classes at the Locc as well as the others offered there, and I answered them all between bites.
