Page 88 of Angels & Whiskey

“Mornin’,” she replied.

I took a few moments to grab the ingredients before I stood and turned around. When I did, I swallowed hard when I saw Autumn sitting across from Jackson as if she was meant to be there, still wearing my clothes. “Mornin’, angel. Sleep well?”

She smiled, looking out the window toward the front yard. “I did. Thank you.”

I waited for Jackson to chime in to give her a hard time about the fact that he heard us, but he didn’t. “Like pancakes?” I asked.

She looked back at me, her hair framing her face as if she ran her fingers through it to brush it. “Who doesn’t like pancakes?”

“I’m a waffle man,” Jackson shrugged and stuck a bite of egg into his mouth. Chewing while talking, he said, “I love how the syrup stays in each square. You get the perfect ratio in each bite.” Autumn and I stared at him, not saying anything. “What?” he asked, looking from me to her.

She giggled and I responded with a chuckle. “You’re an idiot.”

“It’s true,” he confirmed.

I turned around toward the counter and placed the ingredient down then went to get a bowl. Afterward, I made her a cup of coffee. It wasn’t Starbucks, but vanilla creamer worked just as well.

I placed it in front of her. “Thank you.” She smiled up at me, her hazel eyes shining from the light coming in the window.

“You’re welcome.” I returned back to making the pancakes.

“Let me help you. It’s the least I can do,” Autumn spoke, scooting the wood chair back against the tiled floor.

“I can make you pancakes,” I protested.

“But you’re letting me stay here—”

“I can cook.”

“You can?” Jackson asked.

I shot him a look, glaring my eyes. “I can cook. I just don’t since you do.”

“Asshole,” he muttered under his breath.

I chuckled. “Relax, angel. I’m making you breakfast and then we can go see your folks then go to your house and get your stuff.”

“Yeah—I still don’t want to face Rich.” She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window again.

“Auttie, we’ve both been waiting for the day to nail his ass,” Jackson said, pointing his fork at her.

“What did he do to you two anyway?”

Jackson looked over at me and I took a deep breath and nodded. “Let me make these pancakes and then we’ll tell you.”

Autumn got up and started to go through the cabinets as I whisked the pancake batter.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Going to set the table and get us something to drink.”

I chuckled. “I’m tryin’ to take care of you, woman.”

“It’s not a problem. This way we can eat faster.”

I shook my head. “Okay.”

Jackson finished his breakfast and played on his cell phone while I finished the pancakes. I served Autumn before we began to eat the delicious, fluffy goodness with no holes for syrup.