Page 79 of Perfectly Us

I feel the heat of his gaze on me as I tap my computer screen. “T-That’ll be two fifty.”

He hands me a five-dollar bill, and my hand shakes as I take it. God, I hate being like this. My anxiety can go from one to a hundred in a mere second. His phone rings, and he pulls it from his pocket.

“Davenport,” he says as he answers it.

I nearly drop his change. Davenport? That’s Alex’s last name. Alex said his dad was a police lieutenant. I give him a quick once-over. He’s not wearing a uniform or a flashy badge. He’s dressed in a button-up shirt and slacks.

“I’ll be right there,” he says before disconnecting the call and pocketing his phone. His green eyes then land on me. An all-too-familiar shade of green. “That coffee won’t pour itself, boy.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry.” I scramble around for a large cup and fill it with coffee, cursing under my breath when my hand shakes and I spill some down the side. I wipe off the cup and slap a lid on top before handing it to him. “Have a good day, sir.”

Sir?Just kill me now.

“You too, Mr. Walker.” He grabs his cup and turns around, leaving without another glance my way.

He knows who I am.

After making sure no customers are at the counter, I grab my phone and text Alex.

Me:I think I just met your dad.

Alex:What???? Really? He left the house like fifteen minutes ago.

Me:Wearing a white shirt and blue tie?

Alex:Yep. Did he say something to you???

Me:He knew my name. Didn’t say much else.

Alex:He wasn’t an ass to you or anything was he?

Me:Define “ass.” Is he always so stern?

Alex:Pretty much. He never smiles anymore. I’m sorry if he was rude to you.

Me:He wasn’t rude. Just intense.

An intensity that changed the currents in the air around him and made every nerve in my body react. Alex said his dad’s the one who found Clay in the woods. Seeing something like that would alter a person, leave a darkness behind.

My mind drifts to Trey in between taking orders. Last I heard of him, he was doing great. He was in the process of getting his GED and mentioned how he wanted to go into the Marine Corps. I don’t realize I’m crying until I feel a warm tear roll down my cheek. I wipe at it and check if I need to brew any more coffee.

“You okay?” Amanda asks, her forehead crinkled in concern.

“I’m fine.”

Two words I’ve said too many times to count. Even if it’s not true, I pretend it is.

Alex is already at my house when I get off work. I hear his voice coming from the kitchen as soon as I walk through the front door. The heaviness in my chest lifts a little.

“Know what happened next?” Alex asks my dad as I enter through the archway. He’s sitting on the barstool with his back to me, swinging his legs back and forth, blue hat on backward and wearing a maroon tank top. “I pushed the trampoline against the barn and jumped off onto it. I bounced so high that I hit the tree right next to it and got caught in the branches. Then I was too scared to jump off. Ruben had to get a ladder and come rescue me.”

Dad laughs as he stirs the hamburger meat in the skillet. “You’re an adrenaline junkie.”

“Nah. I’m just kind of dumb sometimes.” Alex turns to me, and his smile widens. “Hey!” He slides off the barstool and attacks me with a hug. “Your dad said I could stay for dinner. He’s making spaghetti. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” I wrap my arms around him and breathe in his comforting scent. “I’m glad you’re here.”

***