Page 70 of Second Chance

“What?” she mutters with a mouthful of food. I shake my head and take a bite of my burger with a smile on my face. Definitely going to need to up my workout when I get home.

We chat throughout the meal, reminiscing on what I consider safe ground—the farm, the river, the Lane. We don’t mention Chris or Kristy, avoiding any memory that would involve either of them. When we finish eating, I pay for our meal, which Hollilyn insists I shouldn’t since I’m family to Dolores. I remind her the place needs the money, and she takes the cash I offer along with a tip equaling the cost of our dinner.

I follow Mati to the parking lot, but I’m not ready for the evening to end. She hesitates next to her truck, and I laugh at the size compared to her stature.

“Why’s it so big?” I chuckle as I nod at the S-10 4x4 truck in black.

“I thought there was no such thing as too big?” Her lips twist a little, and I recall what I said to her through social media. “After I got rid of the minivan, I didn’t want to downsize to a car. Plus, this has better traction in snow.”

I shiver with the thought of snow. I haven’t experienced it in years except for photoshoots in Colorado.

“Mati and a minivan,” I mock. She leans against the driver door, and I hover over her.

“Mom-mobile, I know, but very necessary.”

“Big back seat, I guess.” I pause for a moment, watching the wheels spin a little before she understands my implication.

“Oh, we didn’t…I mean…” She’s blushing and flustered, and I realize I don’t want to know about her sex life with Chris, but there’s a hint. She didn’t have sex with him in her minivan. I eye the back of her truck a second.

“Let’s go for a ride,” I say, my voice dropping as I lean closer.

“I don’t think you should kiss me here,” she whispers as if people can hear her although the lot is mostly empty. Crusty, James and the guy named Justice are lingering on the edge of the lot, but not paying us any attention.

“Then where can I kiss you?”