Page 116 of Safe With You

“For Daddy-Daughter Day?”

“Yes.”

Luna shrugged like that sounded completely reasonable. “Maybe she wanted to look nice.”

“She was wearing overalls.”

She laughed just as the light changed, and we stepped into the crosswalk.

“See? She knew what she wanted.”

“She knew she wanted to make us late.”

“She’s six.”

“Exactly.”

Luna looked up at the sign before turning toward me. “You’ve never been here?”

“No.”

“But you’ve been meaning to try it?”

“That’s what I said.”

“You could’ve been bringing me somewhere terrible.”

“I checked the reviews.”

“Oh, good. Research.” Her smile widened. “Very professional.”

I laughed as I pulled the door open for her. “You’re going to keep using that, aren’t you?”

“Probably.”

The restaurant was busier than I expected for the middle of a Wednesday morning. A few tables near the windows were occupied, and somebody sat alone at the counter with a laptop open beside a plate of pancakes.

A hostess led us toward a booth near the back, and Luna slid into one side while I took the other.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about it. Two people sitting across from each other in a restaurant.

But this was the first time I’d seen Luna somewhere that wasn’t hers.

Just Luna.

She opened the menu and barely made it halfway down the first page before she said, “Oh, good, they have shrimp and grits.”

“That’s what you’re getting?”

“I’ve been looking at this menu for twelve seconds.”

“You sounded committed.”

“I was excited. There’s a difference.”

Luna looked over the top of the menu at me. “Do you always have something to say?”

“Usually.”