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Cheyenne became a mother hen the minute we sat down. I was across from her with Auden to my right and Moseley to my left. Our waitress dropped off waters, then sped away to help another customer.
Everyone took to looking at their menus, as was customary in a restaurant. For me, it was a touch more difficult given the small font. I knew it would be an issue from when I’d been here before with Daddy.
If he were here, I wouldn’t have any problems.
While I definitely wished he could be with us, I knew Daddy had a career of his own to attend to. Rather than pout about it, I made do with what I could decipher from the page. If nothing came in clearly, there was always the option of gumbo again.
I moved the menu slightly to use the left peripheral more. Better. I could manage it.
Auden was talking to Cheyenne, something about a client who had relocated to Atlanta for a season. Moseley was listening in, his face practically doing heart eyes. I keptmyeyes on the menu even though I could barely read it.
I was about to put it down when I noticed Auden looking at me.
Not pointedly. Just… aware. Like they’d noticed I wasn’t really doing what I pretended to. They had the menu flat on the table in front of them, choice of meal decided.
"Good?" Auden asked when I sat my menu down too.
The waitress arrived right as I nodded. We went around the table sharing our orders. When it came my turn, I went with a burger, since I knew a diner like this would have one.
After a promise to get the food right out, we were left alone again. Cheyenne dove into conversation with Moseley, who reluctantly looked away from Auden to answer her.
Auden chuckled, leaning closer to me. “He’s adorable. I see why you’re doing so well. Your team is made of good people.”
“Thanks. I like to think the universe gifted them to me. Heaven knows I need them.” I paused, careful of my next words. “I could use your help too. If you really do think Bellport is a place you can live, then I believe a partnership would be good for us both.”
Their smile didn’t dim or shift in the slightest. But their eyes… well they practically came alive. I could see the relief in them. The change that told me my offer meant a lot.
“I believe the universe brought me here for a reason. Whether it be client related or not, I can tell Bellport is my next stop in life.”
Cheyenne announced she needed to use the restroom and wanted an escort. I raised my brow at her, since this wasn’t something she did. She was never the type to play down her strength and tenacity.
“Moseley is just so smart and strong. I don’t want to be caught off guard.” She pulled him up out of his chair before he couldprotest. They disappeared down the hall with the label for the bathrooms.
Once alone, Auden cleared their throat. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” they started.
I tensed. “Yes?”
“It’s just that I noticed some things. You see, my sister is blind. Has been since she was a teenager. In all that time, I was the only one willing to help her, which means I got to see the progression of her loss, as well as how she learned to adapt.”
“And you noticed those same changes with me.”
They raised both hands. “I’m not trying to accuse. I figure if we’re working together, then we should be completely honest. You know all there is to know about me. I’m a fairly open book. All I’m asking is the same. How can I best serve the businessandyou?”
It was a relief in a sense. There was no hiding. No more pretense.
"I wasn't planning to mention it," I admitted. “The development is fairly new. I had hopes that bringing you on would fill in the gaps where I’m going to need help most. Contracts, for one. And correspondence too. I can still do calls and meetings. I just wanted to be…”
“Prepared. I get it, Grizzly. You haven’t offended me or scared me off. If anything, this feels even more like ameant to bescenario now. My sister is so going to rub this in my face later.”
I chuckled at the way they grumbled about it. While I didn’t have siblings, I had friends who felt like they were. Being annoying came with the territory at times.
“Hopefully I’ll meet her one day. She sounds fun.”
“Oh, she is. And she’s a handful. You’ll love her,” they agreed. "For what it's worth, the stuff you've built here seems solid. Cheyenne alone would make most agencies jealous."
"She knows it, too.”
"She should." Auden dipped his head to the side. "Also, Moseley is going to be completely useless for the rest of this lunch because I made the mistake of asking about the potential football draft lineup earlier today and apparently he has opinions. I plan to bring it up once they’re back."
