Page 94 of The Good Luck Cafe
Once the town council meeting was over, Gil walked Moira outside.
“I wasn’t kidding. I like your idea,” he said.
“Because I’m your girlfriend?” She turned to face him.
“Aha. So youaremy girlfriend.”
She stepped closer, tipping her face up to his, her hazel eyes catching the starlight.
He wanted to kiss her so badly right now. But there were still town council members lingering by their cars and holding side conversations, some of which were probably focused on Moira and him.
“Okay,” she finally said.
Gil lifted a questioning brow. “Okay?”
“I’ll be your girlfriend.”
***
Gil opened his eyes the next morning and blinked his bedroom into view. Goldie was nuzzled up to his side, undisturbed until he made his first move. Gil glanced over at his bedside clock and blinked again. Nine a.m.? When was the last time he’d slept this late?
He sat up in bed, and Goldie huffed. Doug had usually knocked on Gil’s door by now. Gil had stopped setting an alarm clock a long time ago because he didn’t need one.
Yawning, he stood and shuffled to the bathroom. After that, he walked down the hall and opened the back door for Goldie to go out. Gil glanced across the lawn at his parents’ home, hoping to see Doug heading in this direction. Maybe Doug had just slept in, too, and his absence wasn’t because he was upset with Gil. Doug was nowhere to be seen, however.
On a sigh, Gil refocused on Goldie, who was now sniffing random patches of grass.
“Come on, Gold. I need coffee.”
Goldie darted back toward the house, racing inside ahead of him. Gil went through the motions of drinking his coffee and taking a quick shower. Then he headed across the lawn to see Doug.
He stood at his parents’ front door and knocked. A moment later, his mom came to the door. Her smile dropped when she saw him.
“Uh-oh,” Gil said. “What did I do?”
“You know exactly what you did.” She stepped back and gestured him inside. “Want a cup of coffee?”
“I just had a cup, but I wouldn’t turn down a second one,” he said, following his mom into the kitchen.
Apparently, his mom wasn’t feeling humorous today. She pointed at the half-full pot. “Help yourself. I just made it and was about to enjoy my first cup.”
Gil grabbed a mug from the cabinet. He reached for the pot of coffee and poured himself a healthy serving, guessing he was going to need the caffeine to get through the lecture he felt coming.
He turned and leaned against the counter as he sipped his coffee. “Go ahead.” He gave her agimmegesture.
“You’re helping Doug find a place to live? On his own? You know how I feel about that. I thought we were on the same page.”
Gil shrugged. “You’re the parent, and I’m just the big brother. But Doug is an adult, and as his brother, it’s my job to help him in any way I can. Isn’t that what you always taught me?”
His mom frowned. She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes began to water. “You think I’m being overprotective?”
“If you are, it’s allowed. You’re our mother. A great mother at that.”
“I’m trying to be. I thought a great mother would keep Doug here though, in case he needs us.”
Gil set his coffee mug down on the counter and crossed the room toward his mom. “If he needs us, he’ll call. And we’ll call him to check on him. He’ll have neighbors and two jobs.”
“Two?” his mom asked, looking up.
