Page 53 of On the Breakaway

“So am I.” He points the spatula at me. “Sit down and eat.”

“Stop trying to tell me what to do all the time.” My voice rises involuntarily, but his expression doesn’t change. Of course it doesn’t.

“Then stop making stupid decisions for the hell of it.”

I jolt back slightly, and his face softens in response.

“I thought you were supposed to be nice.”

He cocks an eyebrow. “I thought you liked me better mean.”

My cheeks flush as I remember more details from last night.

“I don’t like you at all.” I head toward the door again.

He crosses the space in a few steps, stopping a few feet away, careful to still give me space.

“You liked me just fine when you tried to pull me onto the dance floor last night.”

“I was drunk.”

“So, now you admit you were drunk.”

“Go to hell.”

“Sure, I’ll go to hell. After you eat.” A small grin pulls at his mouth. “Please.”

Some of the fight drains out of me.

“Why?”

“Because I’ve seen what you consider groceries and would prefer you eat real food today.”

I can’t help laughing quietly at the accuracy.

“Fine,” I concede. “But only because it smells really fucking good.”

“It tastes as good as it smells,” he says smugly.

I slide reluctantly onto one of the stools and cut into the omelet. The first bite nearly makes me cry. A soft, involuntary sound escapes me before I can stop it.

His eyes darken behind his glasses before he looks away and reaches for his coffee.

Interesting.

It almost looked like desire flickered there. What’s worse is that I’m tempted to make the sound again so I can find out for sure.

We eat in near silence before he finally lets me call an Uber. I’d like to think it’s because he’s given up the whole hero act, but it’s really just because he has practice.

With my Uber on its way, he disappears into his room and reemerges fully dressed, sans glasses. It’s a damn shame.

“You put concerning amounts of sugar in your coffee,” he mutters while watching me dump another packet into the to-go mug.

“You put vegetables in eggs. We all have flaws.”

He grins and grabs his keys.

Only once we’re in the elevator am I brave enough to say what’s been circling my head.