Page 137 of Wallflower

The two café owners break out laughing, and I pull Rose close, planting a swift kiss on her temple.

“What can I get you two to eat?” Maple finally asks.

“Rose wants the Big Island Breakfast, with a coffee.” Maple jots it down on her note pad, then looks to me. “I’ll have toast, with a side of your homemade jam, and coffee as well.”

Rose’s death glare burns the side of my face, as Maple tears off the order and passes it to Jack. “Your food will be out soon,” Maple calls out, following her husband back to the kitchen.

Rose lands a hard swat to my chest, and the laughter I’ve been holding in so long my gut aches, finally breaks free.

“You tell me to order the biggest fucking meal on the menu, and you order toast.Toast!” she hisses, and I about piss myself laughing.

She picks up the discarded menu, hitting me with it before reading aloud the whole serving. “Four eggs, four pieces of crisp bacon, three breakfast sausages, two pieces of back bacon, four fried pineapple circles, hash browns, and toast. Upgrade to pancakes, waffles, or French toast for an added $1.50.”

“Did you want to upgrade? Is that why you keep hitting me?”

“No, you ass. I keep hitting you because I look like a whale sucking down everything in my path, while you eat fucking toast.”

“Want to share?”

“Want to share?” she mocks. It’s so stupidly cute my heart trips over its stumbling beats. “No, you ordered toast, live with it. I’ll enjoy the delicious meal by myself.”

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I doubt it’s Shantel. “One sec, flower.”

Bucky’s name lights up the screen, and I see Rose’s eyes glow with hope. Fuck, I don’t have the heart to tell her again that Bucky’s found nothing.

Pressing the button, I raise it to my ear. “Yeah?” I answer, as Rose leans closer.

“I’m not calling too early, am I?”

“No, the sun’s been up for a while, you’re good.”

“Are you planning on coming by today?”

“Where are you? The warehouse or Bleakcrest?”

“I’m home right now, but heading back to the hell hole later.”

“Want me to meet you there?”

“Sure. Within the hour?”

“Give or take, yeah. Just have to drop Rose off first.”

“Sounds good, see you then.”

Bucky ends the call, and I slip the phone back into my pocket. Rose deflates, and I’m sure her appetite goes with it.

“Bucky won’t say anything over the phone, especially if he knows I’m out.”

“How would he know where you are?”

“We all share our locations with each other.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t want to give you hope, but I hate seeing you so sad.”

Rose smiles, fake and half-assed, cutting me deeper than Maximus’s knife did.