Unknowingly His

Chapter 8

After I managed to get Rex changed and calmed, Dad brought out some dinner for both Gray and I before checking in with the other customers. Rex was sitting in his high chair at the end of our table with a bowl of cut up raspberries to keep him busy while we ate.

"So, how was school" I asked casually.

"We had a test in a few classes to see where we were and I bombed them. Everything's new here, it's like they teach something completely different to what I've been learning for the last eleven years in school!" I laughed at how shocked he seemed to be.

"Just try your best and I'm sure you'll pick it up. It's all learning right?" I joked. He just sniggered and went silent again for a few minutes while we both got through our plates. It wasn't uncomfortable but it gave me time to think about the fact he might be struggling in classes.

Just as I was clearing the plates away and Gray was playing with Rex on the table, I heard the sound of engines pull into the car park. I hadn't closed the diner yet but we were going to be shutting in an hour.

I looked to see how many I'd have to serve when Luke came through the door followed by six others. At least it wasn't as many as last time.

"Hey, find a seat and I'll be right over." I said as politely as I would to anyone walking in. He wasn't getting any special treatment. Especially when I saw Gray lift his head to watch me closely.

They managed to pull a table up to the booth I was sitting at with Gray and all crammed onto it, laughing and joking with my brother. I loved how easy it was for him to talk to them. Maybe this move was the best thing for us after all.

"Can I get you guys some drinks?" I asked looking down at my pad ready to scribble them all down.

"Can we have seven chocolate milk shakes please?" Sam asked and I laughed. They really were enjoying those.

"Gray, you want one too?" He nodded and I was glad to see a small smile on his face.

"Any food or just shakes guys?"

"We'll have seven of the double stack burgers please." That seemed more normal than the amount of food they all ordered yesterday.

I put the orders in with Tanya the chef and then went to work on my milkshakes. What I wasn't expecting was to see Luke coming up and taking the ones over I'd already made.

"You really don't need to do that. I work here and you're a customer." I said feeling a little awkward.

"Hey, I'm just trying to ease some of the tension coming from Gray. He doesn't enjoy that you keep having to serve all the friends he's bringing here. I told him to stay with them and I'd help instead." He said and just walked away with three shakes.

After serving all the food, with the help of Luke yet again, I took Rex to the little play pen I'd set up this morning and plopped him in there with some of his favourite toys and then got in with him to play for ten minutes while they ate. He thought it was hilarious to throw the ball pool balls out of the little pool and I couldn't help but laugh along with him. This little guy didn't have a care in the world and I wished he would grow up always feeling that way.

"Luke said he'll take me to field today if you're busy." I jumped a mile and heard the sniggers of some of the teens Luke had brought with him. They were all up and standing by the pen waiting for my answer.

"Oh yeah sure, that would be great. You'll have to ask Dad to come and get you later because I have to make sure this little guy goes down and Dad won't be here to look after him if I leave or I can I pick you up a little earlier?." I hated not being able to split myself in half sometimes!