“Of course I⁠—”

“Here, Mark, all taken care of.”

Mark leaned over the counter more. “Do you want me to wait until he leaves? I don’t want you to have any trouble.”

“I’ll be fine, Mark. This is a diner, and he is getting food. No trouble.”

I wasn’t going to add that, historically, any day Kye made trouble was probably a good day for me.

Amber walked over, giving a small sneer at Mark and letting out a little shriek when she saw Kye.

She raced around the counter to him. “Kye?”

He jumped up, a big smile back as he pulled her into a hug without hesitation, not seeming to mind touching her. “Hey, Amber. What are you doing here?”

“Working,” she groaned.

“You work here, too?”

“I really do have to go, Daisy,” Mark said, catching my attention again. “Are you sure you don’t want me to send someone over to check on you soon?”

“No, I would like you to stop suggesting it and let me work.”

“Okay, okay, be careful. I will call you later,” he whispered, but I was already back to listening to Amber and Kye. He leaned over, kissing my cheek, and I knew they turned red immediately. Kye had watched the entire thing and somehow, Mark’s lips on me felt wrong in front of him.

I shook my head again. No. I was dating Mark. I mean, kind of dating him. Kye being here didn’t change that, and nothing was going on between us. I couldn’t expect there to ever be anything between us again. He left. He drove away and didn’t talk to me for six years. That wasn’t the type of guy I could have a stable life with, right?

“No, not lately,” Amber said, but I hadn’t caught the question Kye had asked.

“Well, call me if you need to or call me if you need help with the boys,” Kye said.

Amber nodded with a bright smile, but I wanted to know what she would be calling him about her needs. What needs could she possibly have that Kye would help with?

She walked back over to me, and I was already glaring at her. “I can’t believe Kye was back, and you didn’t tell me.” 

“Daze has been too busy running around for a wedding and probably trying to avoid me. It’s basically a full-time job,” Kye said.

“I’m not avoiding you.”

“I said you were trying to, not that you were succeeding.” He was smiling now, those two ridiculously cute dimples coming out.

“Here’s your milkshake. The food will be out in a second. I have to go help a table.”

“I will be waiting. Is it just you two working?”

“Aside from the cook today, yes.”

“And where’s Bailey?”

“Preschool for another hour, and then she’ll be here with me until I’m done.”

“What? You bring the wild child to work?”

I huffed. “Well, it isn’t easy, but yes, I have to. I would spend more on a babysitter than I made working half the time. Thanks for the judgment, though.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. Why don’t I get her? Can you call and let them know I will pick her up?”

“I mean, I can, but you don’t have to. You know she’s a handful.”

“And she shouldn’t be sitting still for hours before bed. I’ll run laps around the house with her or something. Trust me, I can keep up. Come on, Daze, you know I can handle her just fine, and it would help you both. Plus, it would give me a really great reason to be at your house waiting for you when you get home because the only other reasons I can think of range from stalker to weirdo.”

“Seriously?”

“About the stalker part? I mean, yeah, I couldn’t think of a way to show up that wouldn’t sound weird.”

“No, about the Bailey part,” I said with a laugh. “But we can circle back to that.”

“Oh, of course. I’ve seen her energy, and I know what I’m signing up for. I have nothing to do tonight, so at least I’ll have someone fun to hang out with.”

“And if you get overwhelmed or annoyed, you will bring her here?”

“I’ll stop by before we head home and yes, I will, but I will not be overwhelmed and bring her here. I can handle one child, Daze.”

“If you’re sure, then okay, that would be great. She hates sitting here.”

“I do not blame her. Sitting for hours with nothing to do is also my own form of torture.” Amber handed him his food. “I’m eating this here now and heading over to get her. Wait, can she ride a bike?”

“Kind of. She’s getting better, but her bike is at my house.”

“No, that’s fine. I’ll go buy us both one. And a helmet. Does she have boots? You know what, I’ll get them because I’ve met her.”

“Kye, take a breath. You don’t have to go buy that stuff. We have it at home.” He was talking faster, apparently getting more excited, and it was only making me melt.

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to worry about it. I’m going to eat quick.”

I walked away, needing to help other tables and maybe distance myself from the scary-looking racer that was currently falling apart for my kid.

Ten minutes later, he jumped up and came back to the counter. “Did you call?”

“Yeah, you’re good to go.”

“Perfect, I have to go—” He looked me over and narrowed his eyes. “Run an errand before I get her.”

“You’re going to the bike shop, aren’t you?” I asked with a smile.

“Maybe.” He pulled out his wallet as Amber walked around to my side.

“Best waitresses in the world,” he said loudly. “I’ve never had this level of service.”