Page 47 of Buy Back My Love

“And you told me you had a man.”

“Exactly.” I watched him zip the bag and stand up like none of this was a big deal to him.

“And you still got one as far as I know, so we going to lunch.”

I narrowed my eyes because that little smile was back on his face. “Why you smiling then?”

“Because you the one trying real hard to make sure this ain’t a date.”

“I’m making sure you know.”

Van laughed and reached for his tool bag. “I know, Leona.”

I still wasn’t completely convinced he wasn’t messing with me, but I wasn’t about to stand there arguing about a date I swore wasn’t a date either. I grabbed my purse off the island. “Good. Come on before I change my mind.”

Van picked up his tool bag and followed me outside. “You riding with me?”

“Nope. I’ll follow you.”

He looked over at my Mercedes in the driveway before looking back at me. “You scared to ride with me?”

“I’m not scared of you. I got my own car, and we’re going to the same place.”

“That’s usually a reason to ride together.”

“Van.”

He laughed and held up his free hand. “Alright. Follow me.”

I locked my front door while Van headed toward his Jeep, then climbed into my own car. As I backed out of the driveway behind him, I caught myself smiling and shook my head. I didn’t know what the hell I was smiling about. The man had mounted my TV, and now I was buying him lunch. That was it.

Van

Ipulled into Little Tokyo and parked, then looked in my rearview mirror to make sure Leona was still behind me. She pulled her Mercedes into a spot a few spaces down, and I laughed to myself when she got out.

She really had followed me in her own car. I hadn’t argued with her about it because I already knew what she was doing. Leona had told me at least twice that she had a man and made damn sure I understood lunch wasn’t a date. If driving herself made her feel better about coming, that was fine with me. Didn’t change the fact that I wanted to spend some time with her.

I got out and waited for her near the entrance. When she caught up to me, I reached for the door and held it open.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She walked past me, and I followed her inside. We got a booth near the back, and as soon as the waitress handed us the menus, Leona opened hers and stared at it long enough for me to know she didn’t recognize half the shit she was looking at.

“You lost?”

Her eyes came up. “Very.”

I laughed. “What do you normally eat?”

“Why you asking me like I’m five?”

“Because you just told me you’ve never had Japanese food.”

“I haven’t.”

“So I’m trying to help you.”