Page 39 of Boss and Brat

Ethan washed his hands with soap in the outside sink and dried them with a paper towel from under the sink, then trashed it.

“Come on,” Carter said. “Get in the truck.”

Ethan didn’t argue. He jogged over, climbed in, and buckled up. Carter watched him out of the corner of his eye as he pulled onto the road. Ethan sat with one knee bouncing, hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt—nervous energy, but excited too.

“Have you ever been to the Blue Star on a workday?” Carter asked.

“Nope.”

“You’re about to.”

For a minute, they drove in comfortable quiet, the unspoken understanding filling the car. Ethan kept sneaking glances at him, like he couldn’t believe this was real.

“You don’t have to take me out,” Ethan said. “I know you’re busy.”

“I’m taking you,” Carter said. “You need a meal that isn’t stress and cigarettes.”

Ethan grinned. “Fair.”

Carter pulled into the diner lot and parked. The place smelled like coffee, cheeseburgers, and fries from the parking lot.

The diner door chimed when they stepped inside, warm air and the smell of frying onions rolling over them. Ethan looked around like he hadn’t been out in a while, shoulders loosening just a little. Carter caught that and something settled in him—something he didn’t want to name.

Andrew spotted them from behind the counter and grinned. “Well, look who came back. Thought you two were avoiding my cooking.”

Carter snorted. “No way.”

Andrew laughed and waved them toward a booth. “Sit anywhere. I’ll be right over.”

They slid into the same booth as last time. Ethan pressed his palms against the table, eyes bright, like this was some kind of treat. Carter tried not to stare at that.

Andrew came by with two steaming mugs of coffee. “On the house. Thanks for coming in again.”

“Appreciate it,” Carter said.

Ethan nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”

Andrew pulled out his notepad. “What’ll it be today?”

“Cheeseburgers,” Carter said. “Fries. Two cokes.”

“Got it.” Andrew tapped the table once and headed back to the kitchen.

Ethan watched him go, then leaned in a little. “He’s married, you know.”

Carter blinked. “Andrew?”

“Yeah. To a guy.”

Carter shrugged. “Good for them.”

Ethan studied him, like he expected some kind of negative reaction. Carter kept his face neutral, even though something warm flickered in his chest—not about Andrew, but about Ethan trusting him with that detail. Like he was testing the waters. The kid had no idea who Carter was and he had no idea why Ethan told him that information about Andrew.

Carter cleared his throat. “You know half the town comes here because Andrew and his brother Joe make the best damn pie in the county.”

Ethan smiled. “I didn’t know that. My family never ate here.”

“You will,” Carter said. “I’ll bring you back.”