Page 218 of When a Soul Cries

“I was absolutely eating it.”

“You were talking.”

“That don’t mean I surrendered my plate.”

The corner of her mouth lifted.

“Too late.”

Before I could stop her, she popped the food into her mouth and chewed it slowly while looking me dead in my face.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at her.

“Oh, you comfortable now.”

Sol covered her mouth as she laughed, her shoulders shaking.

For a second, I forgot everything else I needed to talk to her about.

I just watched her.

This was what I wanted more of.

Not rescuing her. Not fixing shit.

This.

Her laughing across a table from me without fear or stress sitting behind her eyes.

Eventually, our plates were cleared, and the conversation settled into something quieter.

Sol smoothed her napkin across her lap before looking at me.

“I made a decision.”

Something in her tone got my attention.

I rested one arm against the table. “About?”

“The job.”

My eyebrows lifted slightly.

Sol inhaled, sitting a little straighter in her chair.

“I’m gonna take it. The position at Eastview.”

A slow smile spread across my face before I could stop it. I’d hoped she would, but I hadn’t wanted to keep bringing it up and make her feel like she owed me a yes simply because I’d helped put the opportunity in front of her.

“You sure?” I asked.

She nodded without hesitation this time. “Yeah. I need to work, Rome. I need my own money coming in again.”

Her fingers traced the edge of her napkin while she thought.

“And honestly…” A small, almost proud smile touched her lips. “I think I could be good at it.”

“I think you will too.”