“You’re welcome again. And thank you again for saving our lives.”
That tiny smile came again, and then he was walking away. Jules had to bite down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep from calling him back.
Chapter 13
“What are you doing here?”
Theo scowled at Hugh, who was trying to maneuver into the bench seat across the booth from him. He was making a mess of it, knocking his crutches against the table and finally falling onto the seat in an awkward motion that made him wince. “Me? I’m not the one with a hole in my leg. Are you supposed to be driving?”
“I walked.” Hugh settled into place, and the pain lines on his face eased slightly.
“Hobbled.”
Hugh flipped him off and Theo raised his eyebrows. Normally, Hugh would’ve laughed at that. “Didn’t they give you pain meds?”
“Yeah.” Hugh grimaced. “They did.”
“Why aren’t you taking them?”
It was Hugh’s turn to look surprised. “Because they make me puke. How’d you know?”
“It’s obvious from your pissy mood. Can’t they give you something else that doesn’t make you sick?”
Hugh scowled. It wasn’t a look Theo was used to seeing. On his own face in the mirror, sure, but not on cheery Hugh. “Quit nagging. You sound like my grandma.”
“Fuck you.” Theo couldn’t put much heat behind it. Even though a week had passed since the shooting, he was still in a constant state of relief and gratitude that Hugh hadn’t died. After that first rush of rage at the hospital, it was hard to get truly angry with him.
“You wish.” It was Hugh’s standard answer, but it lacked the cheeky warmth that usually imbued the comeback. “Where’s the new waitress?”
“Jules.” The correction was out of Theo’s mouth before he could stop it.
“Right.” A hint of familiar humor lit Hugh’s gaze. “Jules. So have you seen Jules around, or is she in the kitchen, reading your stealthily passed note and checking off whether she likes you or not?”
To his horror, Theo realized his cheeks were getting hot.
“Are you blushing?” Hugh hooted in delight.
To Theo’s relief and embarrassment, Jules chose that moment to hurry up to the table. His stomach dove and leapt in a disconcerting way, as if Jules was his own personal amusement-park ride. That thought heated his face even more.
“I’m so sorry!” Jules sounded breathless, which made Theo’s brain continue down the path it had already stepped on to. “This has been the craziest morning. The kids go back to school today, and Megan called me earlier to tell me that Laura, the waitress who was supposed to work this morning, was sick, so I couldn’t drop them off, so my brain is half here and half riding the bus to school with them, and I’ve already dropped Mrs. McCurdy’s eggs and rye toast with just a little butter on the floor, and—”
Reaching out, Theo grabbed her hand—the one that had been waving in emphasis, fluttering around like an anxious bird. He gave it a squeeze and received a grateful smile in return.
“Hey, Jules?” Hugh’s voice had an underlying note of amusement. Although Theo tried to feel irritated about that, he was just happy Hugh wasn’t looking bitter and pained anymore. “I’m really, really hungry. In fact, I believe my belly button might actually be touching my backbone.”
Unable to hold back an amused snort, Theo muttered, “Belly button touching your backbone? If I’m your grandma, then you’re my grandpa.”
Although Jules sent him a baffled glance, she went with it, giving Hugh a mock-concerned look. “That sounds like a serious medical problem. I’m not sure food is going to fix it.”
“It will. I’m sure of it. The power of belief is strong.”
She rolled her eyes, but reached over to squeeze Hugh’s upper arm. A jolt went through Theo—a jolt he ignored, because it felt too much like jealousy for his peace of mind. “Seriously, though, how are you doing?”
“Except for those instruments of torture”—Hugh gestured toward his crutches—“I’m just fine.” When she gave him a disbelieving look, he grimaced. “Better, then. I’m getting better.”
“I can’t thank both of you enough for what you did.” All teasing dropped from Jules’s voice as she looked back and forth between Hugh and Theo. “For saving Dee and Sam and me.” Her laugh held the threat of tears, and Theo shifted uncomfortably. He hoped she wouldn’t cry. If she cried, he’d have to hug her, and then he’d never hear the end of it from Hugh.