Page 72 of Easton
“He was abused. He’s unsure about new people.” East kneels so he’s closer to Casanova.
“Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so glad he’s safe with you now,” Lori replies, and damned if East doesn’t cock his head, brows drawn together as if he’s thrown by Lori being grateful to him for anything.
East looks at Casanova again but speaks to her. “He’s getting better. We’re trying to socialize him. We take him to the dog park too.”
The way they look at me says they noticed East’s use of the wordwe, making us sound like the couple we are. I’m not sure if he knows he did it, but I can’t deny it fills me up the way only he can.
“This pretty girl loves people, though.” I maneuver myself so Lori can pet her.
“What’s her name?”
“Pretty Girl.” I chuckle.
“Aww!” Lori says, and I can tell she’s smitten.
“She’s our good girl, aren’t you?” I pet her head along with Lori, not shying away from sayingour. If they didn’t get it from what East said, they do now. It’s the first time I’ve had a boyfriend publicly. I’ve dated men casually, but that wasn’t usually in Birchbark. “Anyway, we’re going to grab a table. Enjoy your lunch.”
East stands, a silent thank-you in his eyes. We say our goodbyes and head over to a table in the corner.
“Remind me why we’re doing this again?” he asks.
“Was it really that bad?”
He shakes his head. “Shut up.”
A waitress comes out and brings us water and menus. I feel people’s gazes on us as they walk by, other diners too. Even Lori will look our way and smile, curiosity burning bright.
Pretty Girl and Casanova lie under the table while we look at the menu.
“I’m gonna get a cheeseburger,” I tell East. And an extra order of fries for the dogs, of course. They love them.
“I’m doing the fried chicken burger. I’m getting fries for the dogs.”
I grin. “Already planned on it.”
He smiles back, and it nearly stops my heart.
The waitress returns, and we order. East is a little quieter than usual at first, but as I keep chatting with him, the conversation flows easier.
The food arrives, and the pups perk up. We each slip a fry under the table to them.
“Your mom texted me,” East says.
“She did?”
“Yeah…we’re gonna plan something for my day off next week. She’s…nice.”
“She likes you.”
“I like her too.” I grin at him, which East returns, before he stares off, getting lost in his head. I take a bite, give him some time. “We should look for some more of those puzzles.”
That easily, my heart runs a race. It’s incredible how much he gets to me, and I love that it was his idea. “We can do that.”
“Do you think we can find a butterfly?”
For Ella. And I don’t care if I have to make one myself, I’m going to find a fucking butterfly puzzle for this man that so many people look at and think he’s so hardened, a troublemaker, aloof, when really, it’s that his heart is so damn big, the world hurts him more than most. All I want to do is protect it, stand in front of it like a barrier between his heart and the rest of the world, and take all the hits for him.
Reaching over the table, I put my hand on his. “Yeah, I’ll do my best to find one.”