Learning to Trust - M.A. Innes Page 0,16

in no time.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. I…” He paused long enough to make it clear he wasn’t sure what to say to be able to escape.

“It’s no problem. Waffles are cheap and easy to make in big batches, so adding you in for dinner will be easy. Besides, Destin would have found a way to drag you into hanging out with us anyway, so this way you’re making it easier on him.” I just kept going like the decision was settled.

Morgan clearly wasn’t sure what to do and it was a bit like I was steamrolling him. But I wasn’t going to feel guilty about that because this way I got to make sure he ate something besides pizza and cereal.

“I guess…” He looked around the room, then walked slowly over to the stools I’d found in one of the home stores Destin and I had visited last week.

When he was settled, I focused more on making the waffles. The recipe was fairly simple, but I made a few substitutions and additions to make them a little healthier. By the time Destin was banging on the door enthusiastically, I had the batter ready and was mixing in apples I’d been softening up on the stove.

As I got ready to mix everything together, I glanced over at Morgan. “Will you get that before he loses his mind?”

Morgan gave me another smile as he nodded. “Sure.”

As he went to let in Destin, I mixed in the apples as well as a few things I’d picked up at the health food store. It felt a bit like I was sneaking extra veggies into something for a five-year-old, but I didn’t feel bad. He needed more nutrition. That was hard enough eating on campus, but here it should’ve been easier, not more difficult.

Destin bounced in carrying three different waffle makers, making me wonder how he’d knocked to begin with.

“What have you been doing that you need three?” But the answer to my question became more obvious as he piled them on the counter.

“Because they’re so much fun.” He shoved his prizes across the counter as Morgan stared on with wide eyes. “Look at that one. Oh, and this one is so cute.”

Refusing to sigh or roll my eyes like I wanted, I did my best not to react as I looked at the machines he’d purchased. “So you needed to have the Death Star waffle maker, one that does dinosaurs, and one that makes animal shapes?”

Well, at least they weren’t dicks.

He nodded excitedly. “Did you know how many shapes they come in?”

“No.” Studying them both, I glanced up. “Okay, I’m not making all three, so you’ll have to pick. Dinosaurs or animals?”

The Death Star looked fun, but once they put more apples on the waffle it would just look like a circle. Destin looked like I was making him choose between his children, so I turned to Morgan. “What do you want?”

He looked just as pained for some reason. “I…um…I guess if I need to have an opinion, I have to say dinosaurs.”

Yeah, I was forcing him to have an opinion. But if he wanted to go with that line and try to look cool, that was fine with me. “Perfect.”

Destin started to pout, which had me giving him a stern glare. “We’ll do the animal one next time, and then the Star Wars one.”

That had him perking up and I could see the wicked side of him coming out, so I pointed my spatula at him. “Do not bring anything dirty into this house. Is that clear?”

For some reason, both of them shivered then nodded their heads in unison.

Evidently insanity was catching, but Destin cleared his throat and tried to sound reasonable. “Got it.”

They exchanged some kind of silly grin before I grabbed the dinosaur waffle iron. Moving it over to the other side of the small kitchen, I glanced back at the deceptively innocent guys. “You two go find us something to watch. Nothing too scary. Destin had nightmares after watching Arachnophobia.”

They both shivered again and Morgan spoke up. “Deal.”

It hadn’t been that bad. I liked older movies, but Destin hadn’t slept well and I wasn’t going to get calls from Avery later about the nightmares I’d given his sub. As they headed over toward the TV, I saw Destin whisper something to Morgan that made him blush.

Before I could step in and tell Destin not to drive him nuts, Morgan nodded as they both turned back to me.

Yep, Destin was contagious.

I was