“Girl,”—I bugged my own eyes—“you’re not ditching me. I planned to leave here and go straight home, change into my comfort clothes, and chill. Go have fun. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
I toldno lies to Mari. I wasn’t home very long at all before I hit the shower. I followed that up with changing into a favorite lounge set and setting up shop on my sofa. After a FaceTime call where I helped Mari choose an outfit for her date, I went to the freezer and put a few scoops of ice cream into my favorite bowl. I was back on the sofa and deep into my bowl of caramel ice cream when I got a text.
Unknown Caller: Can you come meet me? I’m at your production room door.
Me: Uh, who is this?
Unknown Caller: Stop playing. Jones.
Me: How you get this number?
Unknown Caller: You concentrating on the wrong thing, lil’ mama. You want somebody to see me outside your shit and start some rumors or you wanna talk once I’m inside?
Me: Who said you’re getting inside?
I typed back my response, but in actuality, I was already off the sofa and moving toward the back of the house because he had a point. The last thing I needed was for somerunning-their-mouth-ass local to see him outside of my place. I made my way to the space that would soon be my production room. After contemplating raising my newly installed garage door, I decided against it. I didn’t need the noise of it going up to alert any neighbors. Instead, I hustled over to the side door. “Come in,” I told him as soon as I opened it.
He stepped inside my future production room, holding a bag, looking handsome, and smelling good. He let his eyes move slowly over my frame. “What’s up?” he asked finally.
“That’s my question. What’s up? Why are you here?”
“You didn’t wanna go to the drive-in, but I figured you still needed to eat.” He shrugged his shoulders while holding up the bag.
My stomach gave a growl. I ignored it. He didn’t, giving me a knowing smirk. “I actually did wanna go to the drive-in. I love the drive-in. I just didn’t wanna go with you.”
He widened his eyes in fake surprise. “Damn. You don’t hold ya tongue, do you? With your pretty ass.”
I didn’t acknowledge the compliment. “It’s not a secret that I don’t mess with you like that, Jonah.” The aroma from the bagcaused my stomach to growl again. “Where’s your truck? How’d you get here?”
“I had Lex drop me off on his way to grab Mari. I didn’t want to take a chance on somebody seeing my truck outside your house.”
“So you’re stuck here until the movie ends?” We didn’t really have a thriving rideshare community in Jackson Falls, nor did we have any form of public transportation except the bus system that the local university ran. In Jackson Falls, not having access to a vehicle basically meant you were stuck.
He gave me a sheepish grin. “Kinda.”
I huffed out a semi-fake sigh. “Come in the house. Since you brought food, we should eat it.”
“She just wants me for my food,” he mumbled, following me into the house through the kitchen door.
I stopped at the island. “What’d you bring?”
“I stopped by STG Homestead.”
STG Homestead was located inside the Manor at Sienna Sunset Resort. It was one of three restaurants located on the lodge’s property. Good Ashes was the more upscale restaurant, while STG Homestead was more “elevated” casual with delicious American fare.
“I got two elevated turkey classics,” he continued.
“My favorite.” I clapped happily and did a little shoulder shimmy. The elevated turkey classic was roasted turkey served on a sourdough roll with gouda cheese, honey mustard, microgreens, and cranberry aioli.
“Can I use your bathroom? I wanna wash my hands and take a piss.”
I shook my head jokingly, but then I led him to my powder room. While he was taking care of his business, I grabbed two plates from the cabinet. A sandwich went on each plate. I wascelebrating the fact that he also got us truffle fries when he came back into the kitchen.
“Okay. Food makes you really happy. Got you doing your little dance and shit.”
My grin matched the one on his face. “I’m a foodie, and I’m from Chicago. I can’t help but appreciate delicious food because I’m from the Mecca of good food. Nobody’s food is as good as Chicago’s. I don’t care where you travel.”
“You’re from Chicago? I thought you were from around here.”
