“You’re mine, but you knew that.” I winked at him and then walked over to the drink station.

The sky was dark outside, and the sidewalks were wet with the intermittent rain that had been falling since mid-morning. Crap weather meant less butts in the seats and less tips in our pockets.

Phaedra brought in a stack of freshly sanitized menus from the back before setting them in a rectangular wicker basket. She crossed her tan arms, her skin leathered from years in the sun. “I’m not going to curse the rain. We needed the rain.”

“Yes, we did,” I said.

“Maybe that will help your boy with those fires.”

“We’re going to need a lot more rain than this. And he’s not my boy. I haven’t seen him in a week.”

“He’ll be back.”

I shook my head, breathing out a laugh. “I don’t think so.”

“Did you get into a fuss?”

“No. Not really. Kind of. We ran into my parents. Eakins was brought up. There was a misunderstanding.”

A knowing smile lit up Phaedra’s face. “He figured out you were using him?”

“What? No. I’m not using him,” I said, guilt washing over me.

“You’re not, huh?”

“I’m … renting him. He doesn’t have to take me if he doesn’t want to. I’m not being fake. I’m being pretty damn mean actually.”

Phaedra watched me try to talk my way out of the hole my words were digging. “So, why did he quit coming around?”

“I think he thinks I’m somehow involved in an investigation of his little brother.”

“What in the Sam Hades? Where did that come from?”

I blew my bangs from my face. “It’s a long story.”

“They always are.”

I felt her watching me as I made my way out to the main dining area.

“More soda?” I asked the woman at table twelve.

She shook her head, waved me away, and I moved on to the next patron.

The sky opened up, and huge drops began dive-bombing the street and sidewalk. They were bouncing off so hard that they scattered after impact, appearing like steam hovering over the concrete.

“It’s getting ugly out there,” I said to Don. “Want me to call Michelle to have her pick you up?”

Don shook his head. “Don’t want her getting the grandbabies out in this. They’re my great-grands, you know. They call me Papa.”

“I know,” I said with a warm smile. “They’re lucky ducks. I would have loved to have you as my papa.”

He chuckled. “You do. Why in heaven’s name do you think I come to visit you every day?”

I gently touched his back with my fingers. “Well, maybe just eat your cheesecake a little slower. Hopefully, the rain will ease up.”