Page 24 of A Furry Thing Called Love (Friends of Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue #7)
Arlo
Walking into Randy’s Diner, I’m not quite sure what to expect, but white and light-blue checkered flooring, and the neon pink strip of lighting around the upper perimeter wasn’t it. Though with Val, I should have expected something…unique.
Val waves at one of the servers. “We have a big party today.”
“Grae and Denver said, they’re already sorting the tables, I’ll be over soon, doll,” the server says.
“Perfect.”
Valery leads the way, further into the restaurant, and we find Graeme and Denver trying to adjust chairs around two obviously pushed-together-tables.
“Having fun there?” Val teases.
“Oh good, you can help.” Denver steps back, sweeping their arm out.
Val sighs and maneuvers the last few chairs into place.
“Ror is on his way, he got sidelined at the office. Luka should be here soon, too,” Grae says.
“Perfect.” Jordan pulls out a chair and gestures to me, I urge Eli to go under the table before sitting.
Jordan sits next to me and I have to fight the urge to lean into him. Fuck , this trip is messing with my head.
Jordan messes with my head. He always has.
“You okay?” he asks, leaning into me.
“Fine.” I’m careful not to turn my head to look at him, not needing the temptation of our mouths so close together.
And the thing is, I am fine. Tired? Yes. But while the fatigue is maybe dragging me down a little, it’s not anything I can’t handle, so I don’t bother making a big deal out of it.
Thankfully, I’m saved from any follow up questions Jordan may have when Luka and Cal walk in, followed closely by two strangers.
“I see you’re havin’ a party and didn’t invite me,” one of them says, literally bouncing on their toes.
“This is my cousin, Jordan, and his friend Arlo,” Luka tells them. “Axel here works with me, and Lauri is their partner.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“You too! Luka said he had family in town, and well, we’re not crashing your meal because my mama raised me better, but I mean, Lauri and I have to eat too.
Luka only grumbled a little when I asked if we could come say hi.
” The excitable blond one, Axel, barely takes a breath as they get all that out.
“You can sit with us, if you want to,” I tell them. “If it’s okay with everyone else, of course.”
“Fine with me!” Callum says.
“It’s really okay if you’re not fine with it,” Lauri tells us. “We understand this is a family thing, we wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“No, no,” Jordan reassures. “I promise, it’s fine. I’d love to get to know Luka’s friends, see if there are any embarrassing work stories you can tell me.”
“Oh, my God!” Luka groans. “I hate you so much.”
“No you don’t.” Jordan’s tone is teasing and light, and I love seeing him like this, so…carefree around a family member. In the past, whenever he talked about his family, he only mentioned their not-so-quiet homo and transphobia.
More chairs get added to the table, and it’s a game of musical seats as everyone finds a place, but finally, we all get settled, and the server Valery talked to when we first walked in comes over.
“Well, I see we’ve got ourselves sorted now, so how about I take some drink orders while you look over the menu?”
“Thanks, Henry,” Grae says. “We’re still waiting for Rory, but you can go ahead and get him his usual.”
The server leaves after he gets everyone’s drink orders, and Jordan and I look down at the menu.
“What’s good here?” Jordan asks.
“Everything,” Cal answers. “You can’t really go wrong. Just maybe be careful of the specials, as sometimes one of the cooks likes to try out their current fad diet on the rest of us, and it can get a bit…weird.”
“Noted.”
By the time we’re ready to order, Rory is sliding into a seat. “Need a few minutes, hun?” Henry asks.
“Nah, I’ll just take a BLT, and add grilled onions to that, please,” he responds.
“Okay.”
Callum makes a face. “You’re so weird. I can’t believe I’m related to you.”
“I can’t believe I’m related to you ,” Rory shoots back, reaching for his drink.
Cal mutters something under his breath in French.
“So how long are you in town for?” Axel asks.
“Just a few more days,” Jordan replies.
“And then you will be leaving me.” Val pouts.
“I have a job I need to get back to, and my menagerie.”
I snort. “Definitely need to get back to your menagerie. I’m sure Rodey is driving his babysitter crazy.”
Jordan laughs. “I left a list of tips and tricks, so hopefully not.”
“Is it really a menagerie?” Axel asks. “Who’s Rodey?”
“Rodey is my Amazon parrot. There’s also Porter, who’s a potbellied pig, and Jupiter is a Nigerian dwarf goat. I also have Indie, she’s a border collie, but I brought her with me; she’s hanging out at Luka’s right now.”
“Ooooh, I wanna meet her! You should have brought her with you, the staff here wouldn’t have cared.”
“Maybe if you behave, you’ll get invited,” Luka tells his friend.
Axel sticks his tongue out at him. “I’m always on my best behavior, thank you very much.”
“That’s probably the biggest lie you’ve told.” Lauri gives their partner a look. “Besides, we don’t need to crash anymore of their party. I’m sure Luka wants to spend time with his family without having to entertain you.”
Axel gasps. “I am a delight ! And Luka’s best friend, so obviously he wants to hang out with me, and introduce me to everyone he knows, because that’s how friendships work.”
Lauri sighs and shakes their head.
Luka laughs. “You’re definitely something, Ax,” he tells them.
Axel smiles like it’s the best thing someone could have told them. “Why thank you. So, does this mean I can come see the puppy?”
Luka chuckles. “I don’t care, if it’s okay with Jordan?”
Jor shrugs. “Indie loves people, the more the merrier.”
Axel bounces in their seat. “Oh, yay! This is so exciting. I get to know where you live! I knew we were destined to be besties the moment I introduced myself at work.”
Lauri sighs and gives Luka a “see what you did” look, but Luka seems to find it entertaining as he just smiles at Axel.
Suddenly, Axel gasps. “Wait! Didn’t you say you just moved in with Graeme?
That means I get to see where one of Lauri’s favorite authors lives!
” They squeal. “Oooh, this is so exciting! Do you think I can post something online?” Axel leans over and looks at Graeme.
“Nothing identifying, of course. But maybe something fun and teasing about how I got to hang out with you? I mean, I don’t read your books—no offense, reading and me just don’t mix—but I could have so much fun trolling your readers using Lauri’s account! ”
“Oh, my God ,” Lauri moans. “Sometimes I want a divorce.”
Axel pats them on the shoulder. “Too bad we’re not married.”
“It’s been far too long since you’ve had a partner,” Lauri mutters. “Then at least I can pawn you off on them.”
Axel cackles.
“Can you two pretend to be normal, please?” Luka asks.
“Nope,” Axel replies.
“That’s boring,” Callum says.
Graeme and Luka both sigh. Rory seems to ignore the fact his kid is encouraging the madness, which is probably the smartest, safest course of action.
When we’re finished with our food, I get up from the table, and almost stumble as a bout of dizziness hits me.
Jordan wraps a hand around my arm, holding me steady as Eli scrambles out from underneath the table to lean against my other side.
“Okay?” Jordan asks.
“Yeah.” My face heats with embarrassment. “Stood up too fast, I think. I’m fine.”
I see concern in his eyes. “I promise. I’ve just been dealing with some fatigue today, and sometimes the side effects suck. Let’s just go back to Luka’s. I’ll be okay once I stop moving around for a while.”
The trust Jordan has for me shows, because I know he’s dying to sweep me off my feet and make me a damsel in distress, but he doesn’t.
With Jordan sliding my arm through his, and a good hold on Eli’s harness, I’m able to walk out of the restaurant without a catastrophe occurring, which is all I can ask for after the way my face burns with the idea that everyone is staring at me, waiting for me to fall on my ass.
We make it outside and the fresh fall air is invigorating, helping to clear my head a little, though I keep hold of Eli’s harness because I don’t trust my head or my legs right now.
“We have ice cream,” Grae says when everyone else shuffles out of the diner. “Let’s head home and have some. Callum made me buy all kinds of shit, because apparently, he thinks our house is an ice cream shop now.”
I laugh a little. “Ice cream sounds good.”
As Jordan leads me to the car, a strange sense of belonging fills me as no one makes a big deal over my stumble, or the way I need extra support right now.
There are no questions upon questions about what happened, or how I’m doing, just silent support that makes it feel as if it’s a normal, everyday occurrence.
My chest tightens and my throat closes up with the emotion, because it’s everything to me, whether they realize it or not.