Free Love or Justice by Rachel Mannino Page A

putting on a smile.
    “Morning, David!”
    “Morning, ma’am.”
    “Is everyone else asleep?”
    “I guess so. I haven’t seen the boss this morning. I took over for Cheyn at eight, but I think he went for a jog. Max is asleep.”
    “Oh, okay. Do you want some breakfast, David?”
    “Already had some, but you go on ahead.”
    She smiled at him. So far, so good. Laurie turned and went into the kitchen. She got out the griddle. She thought she would make French toast for breakfast. She guessed Dante must have stayed up late with her, so she would just have to fix him some breakfast this morning.
    She cracked the eggs, whisked in some milk, and went in search of vanilla and cinnamon. She found the cinnamon hiding at the back of a cupboard, but no vanilla. She dipped in the bread and set it on the griddle. Once she finished making hers, she started making Dante’s breakfast.
    Just as she laid the second batch on the griddle, the front door slammed open. Laurie jumped. Cheyn strode in, looking surprisingly cross.
    “Sorry,” he muttered.
    “Oh, that’s okay. You scared me.” She gave him a smile as she clutched her heart. He didn’t respond, he just moved toward the stairs.
    “Cheyn, do you want some French toast? I can make some for you.”
    He paused, and then pivoted on the spot.
    “Sure.”
    “Are you okay? You must be tired.”
    “Yeah, I’m pretty tired. How about you? Did you sleep okay?”
    Laurie remembered her nightmare. She turned back toward the griddle to take off the French toast and put it on a plate for Cheyn.
    “Yeah, I slept okay.”
    “Just okay?” Laurie looked over her shoulder and he was watching her.
    She gave him a crooked smile and turned back to her bowl as she whisked up some more French toast mix for Dante’s breakfast.
    “He told you didn’t he?”
    “Who told me what?”
    “About my nightmares, don’t act like he didn’t.” She tossed a look over her shoulder.
    “He told me, but I wanted you to tell me.” Cheyn smiled with a wink.
    “Well, I just did.”
    “What are they like?”
    Laurie laid Dante’s breakfast on the griddle, and turned to Cheyn.
    “They’re always different. Right after my parents died, I used to have them all the time. They went away after a while. Now they’re back again.”
    Cheyn nodded. He reached over for the butter Laurie had on the counter and started spreading it on his breakfast.
    “You had another one last night, then?”
    “Yes. It was an old one. I’m in my parent’s car with them and a tractor-trailer hits us repeatedly until I wake up. I guess I call out during my nightmares. I keep waking Dante up. It’s embarrassing.” Laurie put Dante’s breakfast on a plate. “I think I kept him up too late last night. He hasn’t even had breakfast yet. Do you think I should wake him?”
    “He’s awake.” Dante’s voice sounded from the kitchen door.
    Cheyn and Laurie turned to see him leaning against the doorframe.
    “Oh! Good morning.” Laurie felt her heart lifting. “Are you hungry?”
    Laurie tried to block out the rush of pleasure she felt with Dante’s sudden appearance. She wouldn’t be around him for long, and the high-pressure situation created false intimacy. She repeated those things in her head like a chant. She turned back to the counter to pick up their plates.
    “Good morning and yes. Thank you for making breakfast.”
    Dante poured himself a coffee and one for Laurie. She set their breakfast down on the kitchen table for him. Cheyn put his plate in the sink.
    “You’re not staying?” Laurie raised her eyebrows at him.
    “Nope, time for bed.” He exited the room and went upstairs.
    “He’s in an odd mood.” Laurie sipped her coffee.
    “I noticed.” Dante sat down at the table. There was a little bit too much bite in his words. Laurie regarded him with raised eyebrows.
    “Does he switch moods often?”
    “Not really, no.”
    “Hmmm.” Laurie stared at Dante.
    He stared at the newspaper on the