“Whatever beer you have on tap,” he decides.
Kona nods. “I’ll bring a pitcher.”
“Perfect,” I say as he tucks the notepad back into his apron.
Trey leans back in his chair, smirking. “Beer and pizza? Are you trying to win ‘Best First Date of My Life’ right now?”
I shrug. “We could hit the bowling alley after this and really seal the deal.”
Trey clutches his chest in mock agony. “You’re killing me here.”
I laugh. It feels nice. Light. Easy.
But that laughter shatters in an instant.
“MOM!”
The sound cuts through the restaurant like a bullet. My heart drops. I’d recognize that voice anywhere.
Tate.
I whip around, and sure enough, my son is barreling through the pizza joint, heading straight for me.
Panic flares in my chest as my eyes dart past him, searching—
Corbin.
He stands in the doorway, his gaze locked on me, his expression unreadable. His eyes flick from me to Trey, assessing, calculating.
And just like that, the air shifts.
Uh oh.
Chapter Eight
Corbin
He’s looking at her like he just hit the damn lottery.
And I hate him for it.
Because I know exactly what it feels like to sit across from her, to have her full attention, to be the reason she smiles. And now, I’m the guy standing on the outside, watching someone else take my place.
I hate being that guy.
Tate launches himself into Jules’ arms, wrapping himself around her like he never wants to let go. She presses a kiss to his temple, whispering something I can’t hear, and he melts into her. My chest tightens. He really loves his mom.
How is he going to handle her dating?
Has she been dating? She’s never brought anyone around Tate. Not that he’s ever mentioned it. And Tate talks. A lot. If she had, I’d know. Which means this is either new or something she’s been hiding.
“It’s been so long, Corbin,”she had murmured against my skin that night.“I miss the way you feel.”
At the time, I assumed she meant sex in general. Not that her sex life outside of this past week is any of my business. But maybe she wasn’t talking about sex at all. Maybe she was talking aboutme.
I don’t know which thought I hate more.
My feet feel cemented to the floor.
