Free Burning Up by Marie Coulson Page B

apartments in all of those , too?”
    Grabbing a menu, he glanced over the top of it at me. “Nope. Just the one you share , and, you know, the other one.”
    I nodded in understanding. Its existence was something I couldn’t change , so being mad about it was pointless. But I was still unhappy about it, and until I got to the bottom of it, it was going to bug me.
    “So, kids, what can I getcha?”
    I looked up to a dark haired, middle-aged woman in an apron staring down at me through half-moon glasses. She had a pen in her hand, and, considering the décor, she seemed very under-dressed. Smiling, I scanned my menu. Daniel placed his on the table and began reeling off his long and detailed order.
    “I’ll have the tower of pancakes with butter not syrup , maple bacon, two eggs, sunny-side-up, and three sausage links. Oh, and a huge pot of coffee and cream.”
    My eyes widened and I shook my head lightly at him from across the table. Catching my eye, he shrugged and patted his stomach. “I’m starving. All this patriotism gets my appetite going. What are you getting?”
    Closing my menu, I grinned. “I’ll have the same.” Giving me a wink, the waitress wrote down my order and hurried across the diner to the bar.
    Leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table, Daniel chuckled. “The same? You sure you can manage that , little lady?”
    Little lady? Sitting up straight, I feigned insult. “I’ll have you know that I can eat as well as any man can. In fact, in my senior year of high school, Mel and I went to this awesome chili cook-off, and, as is customary at these things, they had a huge eating contest.”
    He raised a brow at me. “Eating contest?”
    I nodded. “Yup. Chili dogs. Whoever ate the most in five minutes … won. Well, Mel entered the two of us. We sat at this long table with these three really big guys who were clearly skilled eaters already, judging by the size of their stomachs. Obviously, they laughed at us. I mean, who wouldn’t? Two teenage girls entering an all you can eat? Crazy. But we gave it a shot. Mel only made it to ten dogs, but I was starving. We’d been out all day, and it was the first thing I ate. Besides, any woman will tell you that when mother nature drops in for her monthly visit, you can eat just about anything and lots of it.”
    His mouth opened and he stuttered. “You … you didn’t?”
    I nodded enthusiastically. “You bet your sweet ass I did! Thirty -nine chili dogs later, I left that place with a crown, a belly full of chili, and the next three days in the bathroom. But it was totally worth it.”
    Throwing his head back, he laughed loudly , applauding. “Epically awesome. Well, then I take it all back. You, Layla, are full of surprises.”
    I bowed gently in my seat and giggled as the waitress returned with our plates. I stared at the enormous pile in front of me and smiled at Daniel. “Well, bon ap atite!”
    The food was heavenly. I had never eaten such an amazing assortment in my life. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the coffee was the best I had ever tasted. The cream that Daniel generously poured in was thick and delicious. The whole day, so far, was a total dream. Well, if you don’t include finding out the man you love has a secret little sex penthouse.
    Resting my back against the back of the chair, I patted my stomach. “ That was amazing.”
    Daniel wiped his mouth with his napkin and shook his head, smiling. “I cannot believe you ate all of that. I’m impressed.”
    I held my hand over my mouth as a large belch escaped me. Blushing, I giggled, and Daniel grinned in amusement. “Better out than in.”
    I was about to make a smart comment about men and their amusement when it comes to bodily functions, when my cell buzzed loudly on the table.
     
    I know I promised to show you the city, baby, and I’m sorry. I’d rather be with you than anywhere else today. I will make it up to you. I swear it.  I miss you.
    J xx
    Received: