Page 3 of Brokered Betrayals
“Don’t bother on my account,” Royce told her. “I’d be more than happy to just eat my pizza while standing over the box.”
“Of course you would,” Sawyer said.
Eddie chuckled and shook his head. “Neanderthal.”
They all pitched in and searched the boxes until they located the paper towels. Royce tamped down his enthusiasm for the pizza, knowing they would likely have a seventy-thirty ratio in favor of vegetable toppings, but his hopes rose when the pizza box lids went up. The crust was thin and crispy, and the cheese was a golden brown that screamed it had come from a cow and not… He didn’t know where vegan cheese came from and decided not to give it another thought. Who cared if the pizza was loaded down with caramelized vegetables and drizzled with a brown liquid when it smelled like pure heaven? The second pizza offered circles of mozzarella and basil leaves.
Jo clapped her hands and took a big slice of the first pizza. “The happy hippie,” she said reverently.
“What’s the brown stuff?” Eddie asked.
“A balsamic reduction,” Sawyer said. “It’s so good.”
Royce picked up a slice and studied it closely. “I’ll be the judge of that.”
“And I’ll wait while you do,” Eddie quipped.
Jo had a mouthful of pizza, so she nudged Eddie with her elbow.
“Some changes have been harder to make,” Eddie admitted. “I prefer at least three different meats on my pizza and maybe a smattering of mushrooms.”
“Amen.” Royce saluted his father with his pizza slice and then took a tentative bite. The explosion of flavors on his tongue made his taste buds sing, and the combination of textures was surprisingly pleasing. Royce wanted to string Eddie along and irritate Sawyer by pretending the pizza was barely passable, but he ruined his efforts by going in for a second bite too quickly.
“Good enough for me,” Eddie said as he grabbed a slice of the veggie pizza.
Sawyer looked smug as hell when he bit through mozzarella and basil.
“This pizza joint makes the best cauliflower crust,” Jo said.
Eddie held the slice closer to his face and scrutinized it as he chewed. “Cauliflower? Never mind. It tastes great.” Then he shrugged and went in for a second bite.
They devoured the happy hippie and turned desperate eyes to the Margherita pizza that remained.
“Basil and mozzarella, huh?” Eddie asked.
Sawyer laughed. “And tomatoes.”
Eddie shrugged and went for it. His face formed a “not bad” expression as he chewed.
Jo passed out drinks, and they chatted about random things until they finished eating. Sawyer stayed in the kitchen to help Jo unpack, and Royce followed Eddie to their bedroom suite to set up the bed and mount the television there too. They worked in companionable silence for a while, only talking when they needed the other to hand them a tool or provide support. Royce sensed Eddie had something on his mind, and a quick glance revealed a slight furrow in his dad’s brow.
“What’s weighing on you, Eddie?”
His dad looked up, and the furrow deepened. “Nothing. I was just concentrating on making sure the bed is level.”
Royce set the drill on the nightstand and gave Eddie his full attention. “Nah. You’ve seemed distracted the last few times I’ve seen you. It feels like you have something you want to say but are worried that maybe you shouldn’t.”
Eddie dropped his gaze for a few moments before meeting Royce’s eyes again. “Yeah, maybe I do. Things are great between us.” Eddie swallowed hard. “The best they’ve ever been.”
Royce nodded. “And you think whatever you have to say or ask will make me mad enough to stop speaking to you again?”
Eddie seemingly held his breath for a few seconds before he released it. “Yes. That’s what I’m worried about.”
It irritated Royce that Eddie had deemed him too sensitive or irrational to hear his thoughts without getting offended. Then he realized this was the exact reaction his dad had wanted to avoid. He could already feel his body temperature rising and his pulse increasing. Royce took a deep breath and sighed. “It’s not much of a relationship if we can’t speak our minds.”
“True, but you’ve taught me that some things are better left unsaid.”
“Unless it’s causing you undue stress,” Royce told him. His mind spun with all the potential sources of trouble, but Royce’s thoughts kept returning to his two vulnerable spots: Sawyer and Darla. But Eddie was crazy about Sawyer, and he was excited to meet his first granddaughter. Royce took another one of those cleansing breaths Sawyer was so fond of and allowed his dad to say what was on his mind without automatically leaping to worst conclusions. They both deserved better.