Page 55 of Sheltering You

“They are very good,” Rabie said. “He likes the ones with the cinnamon, but I prefer the white ones.”

“Powdered sugar,” Derrick said. “You want one?”

“They sound very healthy.”

“Sure. You got your important food groups. Bread. Vegetables.”

She let her surprise show on her face, her eyebrows hiking. “Where are the vegetables?”

He pointed at the skillet. “Vegetable oil. Duh.” He winked at Rabie, who giggled.

“You are ridiculous.” She shook her head, trying to keep her lips from giving away her amusement.

“Sugar comes from a plant.” Derrick nodded to a glass of milk on the counter. “And there’s dairy. What are we missing?”

“The healthy part, I think.”

“Killjoy.” To Rabie, Derrick said, “Women.”

He echoed, “Yeah. Women.”

They both laughed.

She had no idea how long they’d been awake, but clearly long enough to form a bond.

Derrick took a mug from beside the coffee pot behind him. “There’s no decaf, but I found some herbal tea, if you’d like. It’s maple-ginger.”

She started to walk around the bar. “I can make it.”

He turned on the electric kettle. “Have a donut, Jazz. I got it.”

Jazz.

She’d never told him how much she liked it when he called her that.

Probably, when this was all over, he’d quit calling her by the nickname. He’d quit calling her altogether.

She couldn’t dwell on that or she’d get emotional like she had the night before. The thought of all the things she’d said to him and her frustration when he didn’t understand warmed her cheeks.

She must not think of that. And she must never think of what he’d said.

Using a fork, she slid two donuts, one of each flavor, onto her plate and settled on the stool beside Rabie. She cut a bite of the cinnamon donut first and ate it.

“Well?” Rabie asked in Arabic. “It’s good, right? The other one’s better, though.”

“English, please,” she said. “It’s unkind to speak in a language not everyone understands.”

His gaze flicked to Derrick. “Okay.”

She wrapped her arm around the boy’s narrow shoulders and held him close. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She let him go and took another small bite, enjoying the sweetness on her tongue. “It’s very good.”

“Try the other one,” Rabie urged.

She cut a bite of the white one and ate it.

“Good, right?” he said.

Derrick was watching her.