With me?
Ben had shocked me countless times with things that had come out of his mouth, but this may have topped them all.
Chapter Twelve
BEN
I stifled a laugh, which wasn’t easy considering the look on Lori’s face. She seemed to stare at me a lot, but this time was different. Her eyebrows were squished together like she was suspicious. Maybe she thought it was a setup and I had plans to get rid of her in a dark alley, which would have been difficult since it was daytime. Not that I even had those thoughts.
I held in another laugh.
Finally she spoke. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. I asked you to walk with me and you seem to be having difficulties coming up with a yes or no answer.”
“A walk.”
“Yeah . . . you know.” I lifted my legs and walked in place. “Walk? It’s that exercise some people do when they like to get some fresh air or after they’ve had way too much food and need to work some of it off.”
She glanced up and down the street. “What did you have in mind?”
“How about going down by the cove?”
La Jolla Cove is a small, picturesque cove and beach that is tucked between sandstone cliffs. It’s one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California and tourists come from all over to take pictures with the sea lions, hundreds of pelicans, and the waves crashing against the rocks.
Lori thought about it again. “Okay. Lead the way.”
We walked in silence down Girard Avenue, past Juice Crafters and Warwick’s Bookstore. I spotted Russ, a local guy who had been down on his luck for the last few years. Normally, he occupied a space on the bus bench around the corner, waiting for people to give him a handout, but today he was walking in our direction.
He glanced over at me and gave me his usual head nod.
I nodded right back and pulled out a five-dollar bill, handing it to him while Lori peeked inside the window of Bowers Jewelers.
He nodded again. “Thanks, Ben.”
I smiled and gave him another head nod. “You got it, Russ. Have a great day.”
Lori turned around from the window as Russ continued down the street. “Did you say something?”
“Me?” I said. “Nope.”
She glanced down the street at Russ as he walked away, and then back at me. “Shall we continue?”
I pointed to Bowers Jewelers. “Did you see something interesting? I don’t mind going inside.”
Lori shook her head. “There were too many interesting things and that’s the reason why we are not going inside.” She laughed as we continued walking.
A minute later, I stopped in front of the Peet’s Coffee and pointed. “Well, isn’t this special? Another Peet’s like the one we met at. It brings back special memories, doesn’t it?”
Lori looked like she was holding in a laugh, her bottom lip quivering.
“Oh, how the time flies,” I continued. “It almost seems like yesterday.”
She playfully smacked me on the side of the arm. “Do you think you’re funny?”
“I don’t know, maybe a little.” I held up a finger. “Wait right here. I’ll be back.”
I went inside Peet’s before she could object, and a few minutes later I walked out with two small mochas.
