Behind me, Zain makes a sound suspiciously like a cough.
I turn.
His mouth is completely straight.
Theo looks up at him.
“Are you going to marry Miss Kaia?”
The entire world stops.
Zain looks down at Theo.
“That is not your business.”
Theo nods.
“So yes.”
I make a strangled noise.
Penny beams.
Zain looks at me, and there is something in his eyes I cannot read.
Then he says, “I’ll pick you up at four.”
I recover enough to glare. “No need. I’m meeting Joyce later.”
“Fine. Call if you need anything.”
Before I can answer, he turns and walks back to the truck.
I stare after him.
Penny tugs my hand.
“I like him.”
“Traitor.”
She giggles.
I watch the truck pull away while something uncomfortable settles beneath my ribs.
Last night he kissed me like he had been starving. This morning he bought me clothes, made me breakfast, and acted as if nothing happened.
I have no idea what to do with that.
So I do what I know.
I teach.
By five thirty, I am sitting across from Joyce at The Pines Diner with a slice of pie between us and absolutely no intention of discussing Zain.
This plan lasts approximately forty seconds.
The diner is busy with the early dinner crowd. Red vinyl stools line the long counter, mismatched booths sit beneath the big front windows, and the whole place smells like coffee, fries, and something sweet baking in the kitchen.
