Page 19 of Loving Kai

“Are you going to become an apple farmer?”

“With twelve trees? No. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving Rocco’s anytime soon.”

Abe sighed. “Good.” She raised an eyebrow, and he added, “I’d hate to have to train another waitress.”

Maggie swung an arm and hit him on the shoulder.

Abe laughed. “Just kidding. You are irreplaceable.”

She looked at him for a moment. “Do you mean that?”

“Yeah. Have I not conveyed that to you?” He laughed. “Like every day, on a regular basis.”

“Not so much, no.”

“I guess I haven’t been the best boss.”

“You’re terrible.” She smiled. “But it’s okay. Gentry makes up for it.”

“I just…” He shook his head. “I don’t know why. I can’t seem to stop myself.”

She patted his arm. “It’s fine. You are being you.”

“A jerk?”

“No. Charmingly disagreeable.”

Abe raised an eyebrow. “Charming?”

Maggie laughed. “Of course that’s the word you pick up on.”

“Interesting. You find me charming.”

She nudged him. “Stop.”

He drank some more cider. “It starts to grow on you after a while.”

“It’s burning off your taste buds.”

“You could be right.”

Lightning struck again, followed by a crash of thunder that rattled the house. Maggie reached for Abe’s hand. “What if it hits the house?”

“This house has been here for thirty years. I think we’re fine.”

The lightning and thunder came again, and Maggie moved next to him. “I’ve never heard thunder this loud or this close.” It hit again, and she buried her face on his shoulder. “Or this close together.” She looked up at him. “Can we talk for a while longer?”

“We can talk all night if you want.”

She laid her head on his shoulder again, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Chapter five

“I swear, none of them are mine.”

The storm continued to rattle the house, and after a particularly loud crash of thunder, Abe squeezed Maggie’s hand. “Just think, you could be on a cot next to some old couple with two dogs and a bunch of pictures of their grandchildren to share with you.” He held up a finger. “Or next to laundromat Larry.”

“Larry’s family has a big house on a hill far from the flood zone.”