Page 56 of The Way Home

Jamie’s eyes flicked up. “Oh, do you—are you vegan?”

Caleb shrugged easily. “No, but I like to make plant-based choices when I can.” He flashed a smile that he hoped was charming. “For the environment. Every little bit helps, right?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Jamie smiled shyly and tried to hide behind his menu. A swell of pride filled Caleb’s chest alongside a tiny bit of guilt. Maybe he was playing dirty, but he couldn’t help coaxing those cute little smiles out of this man. He was just too fucking adorable.

After a few more minutes, Jamie plopped his menu down on the table. “I have my eye on the cheese and truffle croquettes,” he decided. “I love pepper dip.”

A snort escaped Caleb’s lips, and Jamie’s eyes went wide. “What? Why’s that funny?”

Caleb covered his mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

Jamie’s shock quickly turned to amusement. “What is so funny?”

“You just love eating things that you shouldn’t.”

Jamie’s cheeks turned pink, and he glanced away. Caleb pointed across the table. “I knew it! You know peppers give you a rash. You know it, and you eat them anyway.”

Jamie scrunched up his nose. “They’re good!”

“Notthatgood.”

Jamie rolled his eyes, but they twinkled with amusement. “Fine, I get a tad itchy. What else do I eat that I shouldn’t?”

Caleb folded his hands in front of him. “Oh, plenty. You love drinking soda, even though it gives you major heartburn. And don’t get me started onpeppermint—”

Jamie gasped. “You—I—I amnotallergic to peppermint,” he spluttered adamantly.

Caleb nodded to the menu. “You’re not getting the brownie with peppermint ice cream, I can tell you that right now.”

“Caleb!”

“Ellie’s orders.”

“Ellie? You two are conspiring against me.”

The petulant tone of Jamie’s voice was childish and adorable. Caleb quirked a stern brow at him, and, after a few moments of silent standoff, they both fell into a fit of laughter. It felt amazing.

The server dropped off their drinks and, apparently deciding that now wasnotthe time to take their order, quickly rushed off. Jamie took a sip of his Sobroni, still giggling.

“I am in complete denial about being allergic to peppermint.” Jamie tried to compose himself. Caleb wished he wouldn’t. His laughter was music to Caleb’s ears. “I can’t even blame the amnesia. I’ve been lying to myself about peppermint since I can remember.”

“Yeah, I caught on after the fourth or fifth time you broke out in hives after going to get gelato,” Caleb said, taking a sip of his mocktail. “You tried to convince me it was my detergent.”

Jamie shrugged. “It could be. You can’t prove it was the gelato.”

Shaking his head, Caleb muttered under his breath about stubborn British people. It made Jamie laugh some more.

“Do we know what we want to order, gentlemen?” Their server came back for a third time and was trying very hard not to look impatient. She wasn’t succeeding.

Jamie nibbled on his fingernail as his gaze bounced around the menu. “Could we have just one more minute?”

“Of course,” she said, but it sounded more likesure, I have nothing better to do than keep coming back.

“What are you getting?” Jamie asked, slightly panicked. He hadalways struggled to make decisions, and ordering at restaurants was a specific anxiety of Jamie’s. Caleb had made a habit of looking up the menu of each place beforehand and always having suggestions on deck.

“Not sure yet,” he said reassuringly. “The breaded aubergine is great.”

“Really? It is?” Jamie said, looking up. “Have I liked it here before?”