Finding Home at Randy’s (Diner Days)

Chapter 25

“ H ow do you have so much energy this early in the morning? Especially after a twelve-hour shift?” I side-eye Axel.

“I’ve been mainlining coffee all night. Don’t tell Lauri.”

I snort and shake my head. Lauri is going to take one look at Axel and know how much caffeine they’ve had. Not that I can really blame Axel, it was a long night of non-stop calls, some more intense than others. I really hate working the overnight shift, it always seems like some type of switch flips whenever the sun goes down.

While working as a dispatcher isn’t my dream job, it’s something that is comfortable for me. I don’t have to face people, and I feel like I’m being useful, most of the time, that is. Sometimes, there are calls that you just know won’t end well, and it hurts because there’s nothing you can do except your job. You have to trust the people you send out will do their job to the best of their ability.

“Are you okay?” Axel asks.

I give them what I hope is a reassuring smile. “Yeah. Just a little tired.”

“We can do this another time? Lauri will understand.”

I shake my head. “No, I want to do this. I just might not be in a very talkative mood.”

Axel scoffs. “According to Lauri, I can talk enough for ten people. Let’s go.”

My smile turns a little more natural because I can believe that. I also can’t wait to meet this Lauri. Axel talks about them a lot, and I’m very curious to know what type of person can handle Axel’s particular brand of crazy twenty-four seven.

For not quite eight in the morning, Randy’s Diner is fairly busy. What these people are doing up so early is baffling, but I guess morning people need to eat too.

Axel leads the way to the back section of the diner, and stops at a table where one of the most gorgeous people I’ve ever seen is sitting. Their reddish-brown hair hangs almost to their shoulders in loose curls, and their dark blue eyes are intense. Their mouth is framed by a short, neatly kept beard and mustache, and though I’m not a huge fan of facial hair, on them, it’s hot, especially as the close-kept beard highlights their sharp jaw.

Axel throws themself into the booth next to the hot stranger and doesn’t hesitate, leaning in to kiss them. I slide into the other side of the table, trying not to stare at the study of opposites in front of me.

Where Lauri is dark and intense, their don’t fuck with me attitude easily felt, even though they haven’t even said anything yet, Axel is all excitable puppy vibes. Their golden blond hair, light brown eyes, and perpetual smile match what little I know of their personality, and while normally extroverts exhaust me, like with Denver, I find myself drawn to Axel’s energy.

“Good morning, you must be Luka. I’m Lauri, Axel’s partner. I hope they didn’t drag you here against your will.”

I smile while Axel acts affronted, gasping and placing a hand over their heart.

“It’s nice to meet you. No, I agreed to this. I might have been sleep-deprived at the time, but I knew what I was doing.”

“I feel attacked,” Axel says with a pout.

“Poor baby,” Lauri says, no sympathy in their tone.

Axel sighs. “Who’s on shift today? I need coffee.”

“You’re not allowed to have coffee,” Lauri tells them.

“That’s not fair! We just got here.”

Lauri raises an eyebrow. “You think I can’t tell when you’re running on a high? I’m the one that has to go home with you. No coffee.”

Axel sighs, but when Maisy comes around, they order an iced tea and pout at me when I ask for a coffee along with my usual water.

“Starting the party without me, I see,” Graeme teases.

Looking up, I grin at him. “Hey, glad you could join us.” I slide over in the booth.

“Sorry I’m a little late. I had to drop my son off with my mother-in-law.”

“It’s fine.” I motion across the table to Axel and Lauri. “This is Axel, we work together, and Lauri is their partner. Graeme is my…boyfriend?” I don’t mean for it to come out as a question, but we’ve never defined this thing between us.

Graeme’s smile is soft and sweet. “Boyfriend is the right word, Amour.”

Axel gags. “Y’all are too lovely and sweet. How long has it been since we’ve acted like that?”

“We’ve been together ten years, so probably nine,” Lauri replies drolly.

Axel sighs. “You make it sound like being with me is such a hardship.” They lay their head on Lauri’s shoulder.

“It is.” Though their response is dry, the look they aim Axel’s way is soft and full of love.

Graeme takes my hand in his. “Now you’re being the sweet ones,” he says.

“Gross,” Lauri replies.

When Maisy returns with our drinks, she takes Graeme’s order before asking if we’re ready for food. Axel orders enough for two people, and my stomach turns at the thought of that much sugar and carbs before I go to bed.

When I ask for just a bowl of fruit, Graeme gives me a look that I’m sure Callum is very used to. “I promise, this is enough. My schedule is all messed up today, and I plan on crashing as soon as possible.”

“Okay…” he says, as if he doesn’t quite believe me.

“I’m the same way,” Lauri offers. “Though mine is from a lifetime of training and actually taking care of my body.” They side-eye Axel, who just grins.

“You work out and eat right enough for the both of us,” Axel says. “Besides, I’m still trim and fit.” They run a hand down the front of their body.

“Good genetics and luck,” Lauri replies with an eye roll.

“Don’t be jealous.”

“Of you?” Lauri raises their eyebrow again. “Never.”

Their banter and openness with each other makes me smile, and it’s something I can only hope to achieve with Graeme and Denver one day. My limited experience has me remaining cautious, because it was the epitome of a shitshow, but seeing Axel and Lauri interact helps show that it’s not impossible to have the life and love I’ve always wanted.

“Thank you for inviting us for breakfast,” I tell Axel sincerely. “It was fun.”

“It was! We’ll have to do it again, yeah?”

“Absolutely.” I chew on my lip for a moment before saying, “Maybe my other partner will be available next time.”

“The more the merrier. We don’t discriminate here.”

“You mean we’ve had our fair share of thirds as well as fourths,” Lauri casually throws out.

“Yeah, that.”

“I don’t know about a fourth…” The very thought makes my head spin. “But the three of us are making it work.”

Graeme wraps his arm around my waist. “I’m sure Denver would love to join in when they can. You guys are a lot of fun.”

“You don’t have to be nice,” Lauri tells us. “We already know we like you.”

Axel elbows their partner. “Shut up, I like when people say nice things about me.”

I laugh. “I like you, too.”

Axel moves in for a quick hug, and I’m too surprised to do anything except let them hold on for longer than normal people would. Though, I’m quickly learning that “normal” and Axel don’t belong in the same category.

Lauri finally coaxes Axel to leave and Graeme turns to me—after he pays for his and my food, despite my protests. “Do you want to come to the house?”

“I need to sleep,” I reply. “Not that I don’t want to, but I really, really need a bed.”

Graeme smiles. “Well, good thing I have one at my house, hmm?”

“I’d hate to be an imposition. Especially when I have no clothes or anything with me.”

“That doesn’t matter. You can borrow something if you want, but I’m not quite ready to let you go yet. You can say no, of course. But you’re welcome to sleep in my bed. I’ll be trying to write for most of the day; I am so close to finishing this book. But I wouldn’t mind knowing you were there.”

“Yeah?” My heart does crazy flips in my chest at his words.

“Yeah. Only if you’re comfortable with that, of course.”

“Take me home, Grae.”

He smiles. “You’ve never called me that before.”

“Blame the sleep deprivation.”

That earns me a laugh. “Let’s get you into bed then. Do you need me to drive?”

I shake my head. “I can follow you. I’m not that tired yet.”

“Okay.” He grabs my hand and drags me out of the diner. I follow, the promise of bed too good to refuse.