“Hi,” I said, smiling and taking the seat.
He pushed it in as I scooted forward, then let his hand linger on my shoulder before he gave it a soft squeeze.
I felt it all the way down my body. What was wrong with me?
“How was your morning?”
I shrugged. “It was fine. My daughter is in sixth grade, so after she got on the bus, I had to work.”
“Middle school is tough. Is the newspaper busy every day or is there a day that’s quiet?”
“Um, I don’t really know, actually. I only freelance at the paper, so I write articles when the pitch I give is something the editor is willing to print.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that was how it worked. Were you working on an article today?”
I picked up my water and shook my head. I always felt a little ashamed that I didn’t have just one job. Or two. “No, actually, I was cleaning a house. It’s my second job.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t know you had a second job.”
“I actually have three. I do some data entry at night, too.”
“Wow. You’re making me feel like a slacker.” His grin was kind and encouraging, but I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“I don’t get any financial help from my ex, and it’s expensive here. None of my jobs pay for insurance, so I basically have one job to cover the cost of insurance for us, one to pay for our living expenses, and one to try to have a little bit of fun sometimes.”
He reached across the table for my hand, holding it until I looked up at him. He smiled kindly. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m amazed by you. Not everyone would be willing to work their asses off to make ends meet. I admire it. I have an apartment above my shop that basically came with the building, and I live there because I had the space available. Before I bought the place, with a gigantic loan from the bank, I had roommates. And I was only worried about myself. Not a kid.”
“You’re being nice.”
He shook his head. “I’m being honest. Andre lives in your building, but before that, he was living at home with his parents. A lot of people I know had some kind of support in one way or another. Don’t discount how hard you work to make your situation work.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He squeezed my hand. “You moved into the apartment a year ago?”
I nodded. “Yeah. When my divorce went through. We had a house, but without my husband’s income, I couldn’t afford to stay there. We sold the house and split the money.”
“I sense a but in there.”
I chuckled at his insight and nodded.
“Are you guys ready to order?” Blake asked, not missing that Landon was holding my hand. Her brows went up, and her lips pressed together in a smile she swung my direction.
I shook my head and pulled my hand back.
“I need some coffee to start. And I’ll have a BELT sandwich to eat.”
“A what?” I blurted. I hadn’t looked at the menu and had no idea what he was ordering.
“It’s a BLT, but we add eggs,” Blake explained. “So it’s a B.E.L.T. sandwich.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll do the same.” I smiled at Blake.
“Coffee for you, too?”
I nodded. “Yes. And a water, please.”
“Coming right up.” Blake winked at me before she walked away, and I knew I was going to get grilled next time I went to book club.
