of our minds, and there are times they get the best of us. We just gotta deal with ’em, then shove them back into the darkness until the next time.”
Nodding, she brought his hands to her lips. “It’s crazy how that happens.”
He leaned over the table and kissed her, holding her gaze. “We’re a lot alike in that life’s deceits have kicked us in the ass, but it’s also made us more resilient. We’re survivors, and that’s something no one can take from us.”
Ashley stared at him, as if seeing him for the first time. What he said resonated with her, and hit her that Smokey understood what was in her soul. They were connected in some intangible way, seeing the light inside each other amid all the darkness.
An overwhelming wave of emotion—gratitude, happiness, peace—swept over her, and she couldn’t speak. She sat there, looking at him, wishing she could go to him, wrap her arms around him, and never let go.
“Are you ready to order?” Maddie appeared beside her, scattering her thoughts.
Smokey looked at Ashley. “What looks good?”
With her eyes darting to the menu, she said, “You go first.”
After placing an order for the carnitas skillet for Smokey, and a grilled cheese sandwich with tomatoes and chips for her, Ashley unwrapped the cutlery and put her napkin on her lap.
“How did you end up volunteering for Mount Vista Shelter?” he asked.
“How do you know about that?”
His dark eyes bored into hers. “Brady told me when I was there yesterday.”
The steam from her coffee curled up, warming her chin and nose. Blowing on it, she took a sip. “Good coffee,” she said, setting the cup down on the table. “Are you and Brady friends?”
“More like acquaintances. My MC does a fundraiser every summer for the shelter.”
“That’s wonderful. What kind of fundraiser is it?”
“A bike rally with vendors for food and merch-type stuff. We set up games and other shit for the kids. It brings in a lot of people.” He took a drink of his coffee. “So what made you decide to volunteer?”
At first, she was going to tell him her usual spiel about doing it for work in Denver and loving it, but after what they’d just shared, she wanted to be honest with him. “Right before I entered high school, our landlord told us he was selling the house we were renting. After three months of searching for something affordable, we ended up in a homeless shelter. We begged my dad for help, but he said he was strapped, so for two years, we were homeless.”
“That must’ve been tough.”
“It was. I hated living there.” She looked down at her hands. “I’ll never forget the smell—decay and hopelessness. It would take me an hour by bus to attend my alternate high school. I was embarrassed as hell by my family’s homelessness, and I was scared to death my classmates would find out and tease me. Even when we moved out of the emergency shelter and into a nicer, long-term one, I never told anyone. I figured my only hope of getting out of poverty was to study my ass off, get a scholarship, and go to college. That was my only goal. I figured when I turned sixteen, I’d get a job to help out. Hayden, my brother, wanted to enlist in the Marines. He’s still with them, and he sends money to my mom every month.” She shook her head. “It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen him. He’s married now, and his wife is career military too.”
“Grilled cheese for you,” Maddie said, putting a plate in front of Ashley, “and the special for you, sweetie. Do you need anything else?”
Smokey smiled. “We’re good, Maddie. Thanks.”
Taking a bite of her grilled cheese, the juice from the tomato dribbled down her chin. Savoring the deliciousness of the melted cheddar, she dabbed her chin with a napkin.
“How is it?” Smokey asked as he picked up a corn tortilla.
“Outstanding. I love grilled cheese sandwiches. Yours looks good too.”
“Have a taste.” He brought the fork to her lips, his gaze locked on hers, and fed her.
“That’s so good.”
“Try some more.”
Ashley raised her hands up to halt him. “No, thanks—I’m good.” Picking up her sandwich, she took another bite.
“How did you get out of the shelter?”
“One of the women my mom was friends with got a lead on a house, and with the two of them splitting the rent, we could get the place. My mom wouldn’t let me get a