Page 47 of Night Shift

He nodded, and she filled his cup with practiced efficiency. "Anything else I can get for you two?"

Beth shook her head. "No, thank you. Could we get separate checks?"

"Just one check," Tyr interrupted smoothly.

Alice smiled and bustled away, leaving Beth staring at Tyr with wide eyes.

"I can pay for my own breakfast," she protested.

"Of course you can." Tyr's blue eyes danced with amusement. "But I invited you to breakfast."

Beth's heart skipped a beat as she processed his words. "Like..." She cleared her throat, her voice coming out barely above a whisper. "Like a date?"

"Exactly like a date." Tyr's gaze didn't waver, steady and patient.

A flutter of excitement mixed with nerves hit her. A date. The word felt impossible - like something that belonged to the person she'd been before everything shattered. Neil's memory stirred, but instead of the crushing weight she expected, it settled quietly in her chest. Different now. Manageable.

Her fingers twisted the napkin in her lap. "I... I haven't dated anyone since..."

"I know." Tyr's voice remained gentle, his blue eyes holding no pressure or judgment.

He wasn't pushing, wasn't demanding an answer, and that somehow made all the difference. Part of her wanted to flee, to protect herself from the possibility of that kind of pain again. But another part, one that had been sleeping for so long, stretched awake with tentative hope.

"The question is," Tyr continued softly, "would you like to have a second date?"

Beth's breath caught. The question hung between them in the quiet diner, weighted with possibility. Beth felt heat creep up her cheeks as she met Tyr's steady gaze across the table. Her heart fluttered, a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation dancing through her veins.

"Yes." The word came out soft but certain. "I'd like that."

Tyr's smile brightened the pre-dawn darkness, making her blush deepen. His cool fingers squeezed hers gently where they still rested on the table between them.

"I'm glad," he said simply.

Beth ducked her head, unable to contain her own smile as she toyed with her empty hot chocolate mug. The warm glow in her chest felt foreign but welcome - a sensation she'd forgotten existed in the long dark months after Neil's death.

Chapter 10

Tyr pushed open the kitchen door of the Residence, and stopped short. His twin brother stood at the counter, methodically loading items into a cardboard box.

Baking soda. White vinegar. Liquid dish soap.

Tyr's eyebrows rose as Tobi added red and yellow food coloring to the growing collection. A container of glitter sparkled under the kitchen lights as it joined the other items. Play-Doh and a small plastic water bottle completed the bizarre assembly.

"Have you finally lost what's left of your mind?" Tyr crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "What in seven hells is all this?"

Tobi looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, hey there!"

His grin turned slightly sheepish as he continued packing up the supplies. "Did you know there are like a million videos online about cool science experiments for kids? This one's supposed to be awesome - a lava volcano - the baking soda and vinegar make it foam up, and then with the food coloring and glitter..." He gestured enthusiastically. "Instant lava!"

"And you're doing this because...?" Tyr prompted, though he had a suspicion he knew where this was heading.

Tobi ducked his head, suddenly very interested in adjusting the Play-Doh container. "I might have... offered to watch Yousuf tonight." He glanced up through his bangs. "Beth and Layla wanted to go out with Katerina - you know, girls' night or whatever."

"So you volunteered to babysit." Tyr couldn't quite keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Hey, I figured making volcanoes beats sitting around watching cartoons all night." Tobi straightened defensively. "Besides, the kid needs some fun. And what's more fun than explosions?"

"Controlled explosions," Tyr corrected automatically. "Very small, very contained explosions."