“Really?”
Daphne nodded. “Yep.”
“Sign me up,” I said.
“How many waffles do you want?” she asked. She turned on the waffle maker.
A few minutes later, Flynn and I were eating at the counter when the back door into the kitchen opened. It led from the back hallway where most of the staff came in. Harley appeared with her brother, Diego, right behind her.
“Hey, man, what are you doing out here?” I called.
“I came for breakfast. Gemma's doing her early morning yoga classes now, so I get up early.”
“You just want Daphne's food,” Harley said as she grinned up at him.
Diego shrugged. “Always good to see you, sis.”
My body tightened when she stopped at the corner of the counter. Diego glanced over.
“What the hell happened to your face? Did you punch him?” he asked, glancing at Harley.
She grinned. “No. I would not punch him. He encountered a moose.”
“Ah.” Diego nodded. “That’ll make a good story for the customers.”
Daphne rested a hand on her hip, pointing the spatula at Diego. “Seriously? You guys are using his injuries for business.”
Diego shrugged. “Whatever. People love that shit about Alaska—moose, bears, sea lions, all fodder for stories.”
“I'll take the moose over the bear,” Gabriel said as he came in, hearing the tail end of the conversation. “Ooh, you tangled with a moose,” he added as soon as his eyes landed on my face.
“Yeah. Took me off guard last night. I think my face hit a rock, but my shoulder’s worse.”
“His shoulder looks like hell,” Harley offered as she slipped her hips on a stool toward the end of the counter and sipped her coffee. “I had to bandage it, butterfly bandages and everything. I still think you need stitches.”
I shook my head, and Daphne let out a huff. “Do I need to take you to the doctor?”
“No, I'm fine. I swear. I checked it this morning.”
Gabriel sipped the coffee he’d just poured and eyed me. “Gonna be sore. You flying today?”
“Of course. It’s Saturday. We're booked solid,” I pointed out.
“We're booked solid every day. It's freakin’ summer,” Diego retorted.
“What's for breakfast?” Gabriel asked.
“Egg casserole and waffles,” Daphne replied.
We fell into the easy banter characteristic of living and working here. I loved my job. I loved that Flynn had hustled to finish building this place and made it something for all of us. I loved flying planes, and I loved my family and friends. I couldn't ask for anything better. The only thing that felt odd was realizing that everybody else was paired up except for me, Harley, and my youngest sister Cat.
I couldn't even distract myself anymore. I wasn't about to admit it to anyone, but I had it bad for Harley, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
Speaking of Harley, her older brother Diego slipped his hips onto the stool beside me. He took a long swallow from his coffee before glancing at me. “How’ve you been? I haven't seen you in a week or so.”
“Nah, our schedules weren’t in sync, and you didn't come out for yoga class last week,” I pointed out.
Diego chuckled. “I know. Gemma gave me some hell for that. I landed late for my last flight because somebody was delayed for a doctor's appointment. I wasn't going to leave without them.”