Coming Home(119)

“Great,” she said with a nod. “Okay, I’m out of here. See you guys later.” She winked at Leah before she turned from the kitchen, and then the front door opened and closed. Leah kept her eyes on the omelet, poking at it with the spatula.

For a minute, neither one of them spoke.

“I don’t have to go, you know,” Danny finally said. Leah turned to see him leaned up against the counter, watching her. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“That’s not it at all,” she said as she removed the pan from the stove, slicing the omelet in half with the edge of the spatula before dishing it out onto plates. “I would love for you to come. It’s just…I don’t want you to feel obligated just because she asked. She’ll understand.”

“I don’t feel obligated.”

Leah looked over at him. “You really want to come meet my family?”

“I’d love to meet your family,” he said as if it should have been obvious.

They looked at each other for a few seconds, and Leah smiled as little butterflies flitted through her stomach.

“Well, this will make my dad happy at least. He wants to meet you.”

Danny raised his brow. “He knows about me?”

“Of course.”

It was quiet for a beat before Danny spoke softly. “Everything?”

Leah froze, her hand wrapped around two forks in the utensil drawer. She took a small breath before she looked up to see him watching her intently.

“No,” she said, dropping her eyes, and she could see him look down as he nodded slowly. “It’s not that I’m…you know I don’t…it’s just…he doesn’t know you yet. I didn’t want that to be the first thing he learned about you.”

“I totally understand. I appreciate it, actually.”

Leah heard the tiniest hint of sadness behind his words, and she put down the forks and walked over to where he was leaning against the counter. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and Danny’s hands came to her waist, gently rubbing up and down her sides.

“I’m not ashamed of you,” she said, and he nodded, looking her in the eyes.

“I know.”

She went up on her toes and pressed her lips to his, holding them there until the loud growling of her stomach interrupted the moment. She felt his lips curve into a smile against hers, and she pulled back.

“I’m hungry,” she said.

“I can see that.” He laughed, brushing the hair away from her face.

Leah turned and grabbed their plates, and Danny grabbed his coffee and hers, following her out to the table.

They sat down and immediately dug into the food, and Danny shook his head as he chewed. “You’re spoiling the shit out of me with this,” he said, nodding toward his plate.

“You could make this, you know. It’s not hard.”

“You’re overestimating my culinary abilities.”

“You put cars back together!” she laughed. “I’m pretty sure you could make an omelet.”

He grinned, taking another bite. “So what time should I pick you up tonight?”

“Pick me up?”

“Well, yeah. I have to go home first. I’m not gonna meet your dad in my walk-of-shame clothes.”

“No, I know you have to go home,” she said with a laugh, “but you’d have to pass my dad’s house to come up here to get me.”

“So?”

“So you’ll be driving an extra twenty minutes to turn back around and do another twenty back down.”