Closer 2

30.

After apologizing deeply for the woman's behaviour despite it definitely not being his fault, the staff guy whose name was Adam had made sure they got their grilled cheeses quickly.

"You're right, this grilled cheese was amazing," Eddy said as he watched his sister slip a note into her purse. He didn't even think before his little brother instincts kicked in. "What's that, by the way?"

Brett groaned, knowing that tone too well. Belle got a hint of pink over her cheeks.
"It's nothing, none of your business anyway," she said, sticking her tongue out at him like she would when they were kids.

"I can SEE that it's something," Eddy laughed, poking her arm. "Secret admirer, huh? Is it..."

Both of them shut up when Brett's phone vibrated on the table and turned to see who would be calling Brett. Especially as most it made sense that would be calling would for the most part be asleep in the other end of the world by now.

Brett grabbed his phone and furrowed his brows as he looked at the contact. He pressed answer anyway.
"Hey Leonora," he said, looking at Eddy while talking.

"Hey Brett! Just thought I'd check how you were doing? After your fall and all that?" Leonora asked softly in the other end. "And in general, I guess. And how Elise is doing."

"I'm alright, thanks. I never got around to thanking you for helping me out thst day," Brett said, licking his lips. He reached for Eddy's hand and he took it. "It was nice having someone familiar there until Eddy showed up."

"Don't worry about that at all, Brett. Of course I'd help you out. By the way, there's something else I have thought about for s bit," Leonora said, sounding almost... nervous? "Do you and Eddy have time for a lunch? Maybe tomorrow?"

Brett squeezed Eddy's hand.
"I suppose? Should I worry?" he asked, and Eddy raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

"Oh not at all! Nono, there's nothing to worry about. I'll explain tomorrow, I just don't want to talk about it on the phone," Leonora explained quickly. "If you want? You don't have to bring Elise if that makes Eddy uncomfortable. You're at his sister's, right? She can maybe watch her?"

"I'll talk to Eddy about it and text you, okay?" Brett said, not wanting to tell her yes or no without asking him. He was not interested in Eddy breaking apart because of her intruding in their life.

"Yes, yes, of course. No worries. Let me know, though," Leonora chuckled. "I'll talk to you later, then."

"Yeah, see ya," Brett half mumbled back before hanging up. Eddy still looked like a living question mark, and Brett had to clear his throat to explain.

"Eh, Leonora... Wanted to meet us for lunch... To talk about something," Brett explained, watching Eddy's mood. "With or without Elise, that was up to us."

"I guess that's only fair after she called the ambulance for you," Eddy said, way more calmly tham Brett expected.

"And she wanted to talk about something, but I don't know what. She wouldn't say other than that it was nothing to worry about."

"Well, that definitely sounded like something to worry about," Eddy mumbled just as Adam came over to refill their coffee.