At Trudy’s a few days later, Joy shared a huge plate of pancakes with Adam while stealing sips of his coffee. He kept playing footsie with her under the table, and it was so childish that she couldn’t stop laughing.
“Are you serious right now?” she asked, amused and exasperated.
“I’m always serious.” His tone was deadpan as he speared another bite of pancake, kicking her lightly.
She pressed down on his foot, but he got free and kicked her a little. She squealed, and as Grace walked by with a raised eyebrow, Joy felt herself blushing.
But the laughter, playing footsie, the pancakes—it all faded away when she heard the door to Trudy’s open and a voice she’d know from anywhere ask for a table for one. “I just need a cup of coffee,” the voice said, tired, a Chicago accent tingeing his wor
