Page 83 of Just A Little Joy

“It’s my superpower.”

“It’s a good one.” Casey’s quick, easy grin never failed to do something to me. I hoped the butterflies he gave never went away.

We returned to our prep work until Dylan arrived to take over for me so I could work the bar out front. Gary had decided he didn’t want to stick around the kitchen, but Dylan had been hired as his replacement, and the difference between them was night and day. He and Casey had started working like a well-oiled machine, and I only stepped in when it got extra busy. They’d been getting their routines down in the kitchen, and now they were expanding them into the food truck area.

Casey was a natural leader in the kitchen. He directed Dylan like he was conducting an orchestra of one. His helper hadn’t had a lot of experience in the kitchen, but he was willing to work and learn. He was a friend of Drew’s from Casey’s former job at Stone and Vine, though he wasn’t nearly as laid-back as Drew.

“All right, gentlemen, I’m heading out front,” I said. Neither of them paused, but I turned back long enough to give Casey akiss before I left. I leaned in and whispered, “You’re going to do great tonight.”

“Thanks, Daddy. Fingers crossed.” He never stopped chopping.

“My guy, we don’t need luck. We got skills,” Dylan crowed.

“See, there ya go, sweetheart. Dylan has said it, so it must be so.”

Casey

“Casey, you look super-duper professional. I’m so impressed,” Rory said.

For the occasion, Rory’s punny sweatshirt had crossed hockey sticks on it and readWill Play for Snacks. His beaming smile warmed my heart more than anything. The idea of leaving for Alaska wasn’t even in the back of my mind anymore. My home was with Daddy.

“That works out because I’m almost a professional,” I answered with a laugh. I pulled my ticket book from my apron pocket. “What can I get you guys?”

“Bunny, do you want the chicken nugget poutine or the steak salad?” Gabe asked as he reached into his back pocket for his wallet.

“Come on, you designed the space back here. The least we can do is buy you lunch,” I said.

“Absolutely not. You’re doing scholarships here, which means we’re paying,” Gabe protested, shaking his head.

“Daddy, can we just do both? I’m soooooo hungry.”

“Yes, because I am too.” The chorus of “Me Too” had me plating enough for everyone and saving the time of doing it individually.

I turned around to start plating the food while Dylan handled the payment. While I was busy, I heard the familiar voices of the other boys drifting closer. The satisfaction of creating a family here outweighed just about anything else. I hadn’t known it was possible to be so thoroughly adopted into a group and to have something that felt like everything I’d never imagined I could have.

“Casey, your truck looks so cool,” Jakob said.

“Thank you, but all the credit goes to Owen. I swear, you just tell him a vibe, and he goes with it. It’s like magic.” He’d wrapped the exterior in wood and hung bistro lights around the awning. The vibe was clearly the coolest parts of the PNW.

He bounced on his heels nonstop while I smiled indulgently down at him. Jakob was sunshine in a sippy cup. Nico, who’d been the project manager, looked around with clear satisfaction at his handiwork while Levi held his hand, keeping him tucked in close. Nico rolled his eyes at the PDA but then snuggled in closer, so it couldn’t bother him that much.

“The only person we’re missing is Anders,” I commented as I put the finishing touches on the order.

“Oh yeah. He said to tell you he was going to be a little late because he missed the ferry.”

“Didn’t he use that excuse last time?”

“Ha. I think when you live on Almstead Island, that’s a built-in excuse.”

“It’s probably hard to remember the schedule,” Owen offered. “But maybe he was busy.”

“Busy getting lucky,” Rory offered with an exaggerated waggle of his eyebrows.

“All right, boys, get your food so we don’t hold up the line,” Gabe said. He checked his messages. “And Owen and Barrett just pulled up.”

Satisfaction settled deep in my chest. Daddy was putting some tables together so everyone could sit together, and I loved how cozy this life was. It was hard not to be distracted by the ripple of muscles in his biceps as he picked up and moved tables. Damn, he was hot, and I was lucky. There was no reason to go looking for more or different.

I’d found everything I’d ever dreamed of having right here.