Page 34 of Chasing the Sun

“It is. How was your night?”

She swiveled on the stool to face him, and he felt like a kid who’d tried to sneak in past their curfew.

“Okay. Yours?”

“Fine.”

“Did you stay at Elle’s?”

She shook her head. “I spent the day with her, but then I came home.”

“Ah.”

He was about to turn and slink off to his bedroom, but apparently, she wasn’t finished grilling him. “Did you stay at your parents’ last night?”

He scratched the back of his neck and averted his eyes.

“You know what? Never mind. It’s really none of my business.” She swiveled back to center and picked up her fork again.

He wasn’t sure what was worse, her interrogation or indifference. It shouldn’t have mattered either way, but it did.

While he felt the need for a hot shower, he wanted caffeine more. Plus, his headache was worsening by the second, and he knew coffee would help. If he wanted some, he’d have to endure Chloe’s stony silence for a few more minutes.

To hell with it! This was his house, his kitchen, and his life. If Chloe didn’t like his choices, then too bad.

As the coffee brewed, so did his irritation, and suddenly he slapped his hand on the counter in front of her, causing her to jump.

“Okay, you know what? I wasn’t at my parents’ house. I was with a woman, a dentist friend. And that’s okay because my daughter wasn’t here and I’m entitled to some adult time occasionally.”

She set down her fork again and leaned back, almost like she was afraid he was going to leap over the counter at her.

“Sorry,” he said, taking a step back. “I didn’t mean to yell.”

She shook her head. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have pried. I was just… I was a little surprised when you didn’t come home last night. But you’re right. It’s your life, and you don’t owe me an explanation.”

She started to slide off the stool, but he reached out and placed his hand over hers. “No. Stay. Please.”

It didn’t strike him that he hadn’t removed his hand until she glanced down at it, and then he quickly pulled it away.

“You were here first. Go ahead and finish your breakfast.”

She slowly nodded, still looking uncertain.

Now he felt ashamed about last night and for yelling at her. He was two for two.

He turned away to pour his coffee, and she got down and walked around the counter to stand beside him. He wondered why until he saw her putting two slices of bread into the toaster. Then he glanced at her plate and saw she still had an uneaten slice.

“Hungry this morning?” he asked, adopting a softer tone.

“These are for you,” she said quietly.

He was flabbergasted, especially after the way he’d gone off. “You don’t have to…”

“It’s fine. Just have a seat.”

He went around the counter and hopped up on the stool beside hers. He realized too late that might have been a mistake, but for now, he watched her make his toast—in her pajamas.

“Butter?”