Page 59 of The Broken Heart Playlist
I motion to my outside tap. “Help yourself.”
“Ah, have some pity on a parched man.”
My mind darts back to the dinner we had with Tess and Aaron, to Gideon’s face when my sister offered him orange juice. A smile comes slowly to my lips. “You’re welcome to join me for a drink on my porch, but I only have orange juice to offer you.”
He blinks. “Orange juice?”
“Yup,” I confirm cheerfully.
“Orange juice is fine.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I thought you hated it.”
“Not anymore.”
I gesture to my porch. “Make yourself comfortable.”
I head inside and fill up two glasses with orange juice. When I return, Gideon is sitting on my porch chair, looking very much at home. Uno is out cold at his feet.
I hand Gideon his juice and take the other chair on the porch. I settle back and stretch out my legs like I’m preparing to watch a show.
He stares dubiously into his glass. “It’s, uh, very pulpy.”
I nod. “I buy the extra pulp carton.”
He swallows. “I can see that.”
I mentally high-five myself. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages. I didn’t realize the badly behaved child inside me is still so alive and active.
“Is there a problem?” I ask innocently.
He shakes his head. “Just excited to get my daily intake of Vitamin C.”
I hold up my glass. “Cheers.”
He taps his glass against mine. “Cheers.”
I take a long drink of my juice. Gideon attempts a cautious sip. A shudder goes through him as he swallows.
“How is it?” I ask.
“Thick,” he mumbles.
“The thicker the better,” I say without thinking.
His eyes snag mine. I feel a telltale heat in my cheeks. I quickly down the rest of my juice.
When I finally glance over at Gideon, he’s cracking his neck, as though he’s working up the courage to take another swig.
As he lifts the glass to his lips, I call out, “Stop! I have apple juice.”
He lowers his glass. “Well played, Ms. Miller.”
A sigh escapes me. “I should have let you drink it. I’m disappointed in how soft I’m becoming.”
His chuckle follows me as I head to the kitchen and bring him back a glass of smooth apple juice, which he finishes in record time.
I shake my head at him. “Would you seriously have drunk extra pulpy orange juice that you detest just to sit here with me?”
