Riley inclined his head. “If you decide you’re not, you let me know,” Riley said firmly. “We can’t help you if you don’t let us know what you need.”
Roman nodded and went back to work.
~~~
Richie walked into the kitchen and came to a stop. He chuckled and stepped further into the room. “While I’m glad you’re feeling better, I don’t think eating whipped cream from the spray nozzle of the can constitutes getting your required dairy for the day,” he said.
Yvette turned around, surprised to be caught standing before the opened refrigerator and filling her mouth from the Redi-Whip can with her head turned face up, mouth opened, and her eyes closed. “You’re not supposed to sneak up on pregnant ladies. It’s not nice. And I can’t help it if your cub wants whipped cream — all the damn time.”
Richie laughed, reaching out to gently take the can of whipped cream away from her and put in back in the refrigerator. “At least let me make you some fresh whipped cream instead of this prepackaged stuff.”
Yvette looked up at him and finally decided he was sincere. “Okay. But I need it pretty soon. Milk just isn’t killing the craving.”
“What about something else? Maybe some creme brule’, or some pudding or something sweet and dairy. Something with a little more substance,” Richie offered.
Yvette looked up at him with a stunned look on her face. “Oh my god! Pudding! Yes! Why didn’t you suggest this before? I need vanilla pudding. Extra vanilla, extra creamy.”
“I’ll get right on it as soon as I get to work,” he said. “Speaking of, you coming in today or you want to take another day to get to feeling stronger?”
“No, I’m coming in.”
“You’re sure? Everybody knows how sick you’ve been. We have more than enough people to work the diner. You can stay home if you need to,” Richie said, hoping to encourage her to take another couple of days off.
“If I start to feel sick again, I’ll come home, but I’m okay now. I feel better than I have since you got me pregnant, actually.”
“Since I got you pregnant?” he asked.
“Yes. That’s my story,” she said. “You did it.”
“And you didn’t?”
“Of course I did, but I need a male to help me get pregnant, and since you’re my only male, this is on you,” Yvette accused, smiling at him.
“I’ll happily accept that responsibility every time,” Richie said, kissing her. “Now, go get dressed, I need to go get started on the meatloaf for lunch.”
“I’m going,” she said, walking away from him. “Hey, could you make my pudding before you start on all those meatloaves?” she called out as she went down the hallway toward their bedroom.
“I can, if you hurry!” he answered.
“Okay, I’m hurrying!” she said excitedly.
Chapter 4
Libby was on her break when Travis arrived shortly after lunch. She usually opened the place, then midmorning Richie would show up to prepare lunch, and to do the prep work for dinner. Since he and Yvette were there, she’d take her break whenever the crowd slowed enough, and Yvette would cover for her during those few minutes.
She was in the back break room that doubled as a stock room when Yvette was suddenly standing in the doorway. “Hey,” Libby said, as she placed the last of her food in her mouth.
“Hey,” Yvette replied.
“You need me?” Libby asked, dusting her hands off on her apron.
“No. I don’t,” Yvette answered with emphasis on the I.
“Okay,” Libby answered, totally confused. “Then who does?”
“Well, he didn’t say he needed you. But we all know he does, and he’s been craning his neck around since he got here looking for you every time someone walks by.”
“Who?” Libby asked.
“Travis. Give the male a break. He’s trying,” Yvette said.
Libby huffed a sigh. “I have to get back to work.”
“And that includes his table. He’s sitting at your station,” Yvette said, clearly perturbed that Libby wouldn’t even discuss Travis and the effort he was making.
“Fine,” Libby answered.
“He’s reaching out, Libby. At least reach back. You might be surprised at what you find.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised in the least. I’d find a male that resents the fact that he ever let me in to see who and what he was. I’d find a male that flies off the handle and pushes me away, pretending we never meant anything to each other. And frankly, I’m tired of finding that. It’s not worth the chance to have him throw all my effort back in my face along with all his ridicule.”
“Maybe he’s changed,” Yvette said.
Libby nodded. “We both have.”
Libby stopped at the sink to wash and dry her hands then went back out on the floor. She stopped at a couple of tables that Yvette had taken care of while she was on break and asked if they needed anything, before finally ending up at Travis’s table. “Hey, Travis. What can I get you?” she asked.
“Libby,” he said, with an inflection that almost made it sound like he was purring her name. “I was wondering if you were off today, but thought I scented you back there somewhere.”
Libby smiled. “I was on break. Been here since about 5:30 this morning.”
“You always did start your days early,” he said.
“Yeah. So, what can I get you?”
“Meatloaf,” he said.
“Double potatoes, gravy and an end piece of the meatloaf?” she asked.
“If possible, yes. If not, I’ll take what’s available.”
“Peas?” she asked, “or corn?”
“Peas, please.”
“Water?” she asked.
“Tea, please. Haven’t slept well. Need all the caffeine I can get,” he chuckled.
“You got it. I’ll be back in a bit,” she said, writing on her pad as she walked away to get his lunch.
Libby came back with two glasses of tea and set them on his table along with silverware and napkins. “I’ll go check the kitchen real quick. It should be ready by now,” Libby said.
“Thanks, Libs,” Travis answered.
Moments later Libby was placing a plate with two end pieces of meatloaf on it with a double order of mashed potatoes and brown gravy, and peas. “There you go. Anything else you need?” she asked.
“Not to eat,” he answered cryptically.
Libby glanced up to meet his gaze, her brows pulled together at his comment.
“Maybe you could sit for a minute?” he suggested.
“I’m sorry. It’s still lunchtime around here. I have a few tables left,” Libby answered.
“Of course,” he said. “I should have known that. I was hoping to talk to you about a few things Scotty and I were thinking about this morning.”
“Like what?” Libby asked. She cared about Scotty, always would. He was like her own little brother and she loved him. Problem was she loved Travis once upon a time, too, and he’d stomped all over it. Even after he’d shown a little progress lately, he’d pulled away again.