Page 49 of Worth the Trip

I let them.

I wasn’t embarrassed by the answer. I’d thought about her. No need to pretend otherwise because we’d only known each other a day.

“I liked talking to you,” I said. “Wanted to do it again. Seemed inefficient to leave that up to municipal geography.”

That got me another smile before she looked toward the water.

“Nana had a card game today. She put me out before I could help.”

“Smart woman.”

“She said I was hovering.”

“Were you?”

“I was making sure she had everything she needed.”

I took a sip of tea. “That wasn’t the question.”

Her fingers touched the pendant, but she didn’t clutch it.

Progress.

“I might’ve been doing a little too much.”

“That sound familiar.”

She looked at me. “To you?”

I laughed. “See, this that Self Ridge propaganda.”

“And Self Springs has what? Better branding?”

“Absolutely. Same confidence, superior presentation.”

“Oh, please.”

“Don’t hate because the regional data favors us.”

“What regional data?”

“Internal study.”

“Conducted by?”

“Self Springs.”

“Of course.”

“Peer review pending.”

She laughed again.

The fried green tomatoes arrived beneath a dusting of cornmeal and parmesan. Nolani took one bite, closed her eyes for a second, and reached for another before she’d completely finished the first.

“That good?”

“Don’t speak to me.”