Page 69 of All Your Tomorrows

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After the lunch rush, I was able to take a break. I removed my apron and made my way over to the table where Kyler still sat. “You know, I don’t need a bodyguard,” I said like a ventriloquist trying not to move my lips.

“I know you don’t.”

“Well, then why have you been hanging out here all day?” I asked. “Aren’t you bored?”

“Can’t I just watch you work?”

“You can, but why would you want to?” I asked.

“People watch TV which is not nearly as interesting,” he said, never missing a beat.

“Unless it’sThe Hangover,” I reminded him.

“There’s always an exception.” He smiled. “Seriously, I’m here because I have a question for you.”

“I knew there had to be more to it.”

He laughed.

Daci stepped up to the table, her excitement palpable. “Is he here?”

Kyler looked to me with raised brows. “You told her about me?”

I closed my eyes for a beat before looking to Daci. “Yes.”

Her wide eyes looked to Kyler, though I knew all she was looking at was an empty chair. “Hurt her and I hurt you,” she warned.

I laughed, unprepared for her threat. I glanced around to see if any of the people seated at the nearby tables were watching this madness.

“I’ll try not to,” Kyler said, stifling a grin.

“He said he’d never hurt such a beautiful goddess,” I relayed to Daci.

Daci smiled at the empty chair. “Smart guy.”

“Wow, edit much?” Kyler asked me.

“I knew it’s what you were thinking,” I said.

The bell on the door jingled as a customer entered the café.

“Well,” Daci said. “Keep doing whatever you’re doing because I haven’t seen Nora this happy in a long time.”

“Goodbye, Daci,” I urged.

She laughed before walking back to the counter to wait on the customer.

“So, I make you happy?” Kyler asked, kicking out his legs and crossing them at the ankles.

I cocked my head.

He laughed at my non-answer. “So, as I was saying before your lovely friend interrupted, I wanted to ask you to do something with me tonight.”

“A date?” I asked.

“Yes, a date.”