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wearing a pair of tan capris and a black button up shirt with flat white tennis shoes. Over that is a standard red apron that all the waitresses wear. She’s only been in town a couple years, and the last I heard she and Ethan, another friend, were getting serious.
    I offer her a smile. “Yes, please.”
    “Gotcha! Coming right up,” she says and flounces away without writing anything in her notepad.
    I watch her walk away before picking up my coffee. I take a swallow and place it back on the table at the same time the door jingles opens. Nick walks in and looks around a minute before spotting me, and starts in my direction.
    I feel bad for the poor guy. After losing Anna, it took him a year before he would step a foot back in this place. It carried too many bad memories for him.
    When he makes it to my table, he takes a seat across from me.
    “Hey, man, what’s up?” I ask him.
    “Nothin’,” his voice rumbles back at me. “Headed out on a job and decided to eat before I left.”
    “How long you gonna be gone for?”
    “Don’t know, but I hope a helluva lot longer than last time.”
    I raise my eyebrows at his answer, “Bad week?”
    He runs his hands through his hair, slightly pulling at the strands and mumbles. “You have no fucking clue.”
    Our conversation is interrupted when Karyn walks up with another mug and sets it down in front of Nick. She silently pours coffee in it and smiles at both Nick and me.
    “Thanks, Karyn,” Nick mutters.
    “No problem, Nick. You want your usual as well?” She asks
    “Yeah, sure, whatever’s fine,” he says distractedly.
    Again, she walks away without writing anything down. I look back to Nick.
    “Where you headed this time?” I ask. Nick owns a construction company that has him going all over the place, overseeing the jobs. Sometimes he’ll only be gone a few days, and other times it could be weeks.
    He lets out a sigh before replying, “In bum-fucked-nowhere, Pennsylvania. Some spoiled ass rich guy wants to build a resort up in the mountains somewhere. I have to go up there, meet the guy, and go over his designs and shit. Then I have to monitor the initial set up and recruit guys for the job.”
    “Sounds like it’ll bring in good money, though,” I remark.
    “Yeah, but I already know this job is going be a pain. The guy I’m dealing with seems like a real asshole. I need to get out of here, but I’m not looking forward to working with this guy.”
    Just then, the door opens and in walks Mia, Bailey, and Chris. All three are laughing as they step through the door. I soak in the sound of Mia’s laughter, not getting the chance to hear it often. All three girls look around for a place to sit. When Mia’s eyes land on me, they lose their mirth and take on their usual glare reserved especially for me.
    Mia looks to Bailey and Chris, and says something to them quietly. Bailey looks over to where Nick and I are sitting and gives me a look of pity. Fuck . I hate that. Mia walks off to the other end of the diner as the other girls head in our direction. I glance down at my coffee until they’re standing at our table.
    I plaster on a fake smile and look up. “How are you ladies this morning?”
    Bailey gives me a tender smile before replying, “We’re good. How are you guys?”
    “Tired. Didn’t sleep well. Had to haul Shady in last night. Spent the night on the bunk.” I watch as I see a look of disgust enter Bailey’s face. She had a minor run in with Shady when she first arrived two years ago. Ever since, she can’t stand the sound of his name.
    “Where’s Jaxon and Amari at this morning?” I ask her.
    “They’re both at home. He’s watching her today while the girls and I go shopping!” she says happily.
    I notice that neither Chris nor Nick say anything. I look to Chris and see her watching Nick with a soft expression. When I look to Nick, he has his head turned towards the window.
    “Hi, Nick,” Chris says quietly. He ignores her, as if