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I risked a glance at Andrew, whose head was tilted to the side, studying me. “You’re a great friend to Baker. She’s lucky to have your support. Ella is too.”
Everything inside me churned.Say it. Just tell him.“I’m lucky to have them.”
“Remind me to give you Holt’s number.” I whipped my head toward him. “Not for you. For Baker.”
My face relaxed. “You had me concerned for a second.”
“She seems like she wouldn’t hesitate to call him if she wanted. I want to be there when he gets that call.”
“Have you two always been like this?”
“Like what?”
“Trying to out prank one another?”
“Yeah. Pretty much.” His smirk turned into a wistful expression. “He’s in his thirties, but I still see this little kid who loved to pester me.”
“He just wanted your attention.”
“I know. I wouldn’t trade him for anything.”
“I’m glad you appreciate your family. It’s not like that for everyone.” I wanted to clap my hand over my mouth. Instead, I stared straight ahead and prayed that he wouldn’t ask me any questions.
“Are your parents in the city?”
Would there ever be a day that a question about them didn’t hurt?
“I don’t know,” I finally said. The entrance to the parking lot for Delores came into view, and I nearly sagged with relief. “Here we are.” I flipped on my blinker and turned in.
When I parked the truck and stood to get out, Andrew remained seated. “Did you ever know where they are?” he asked quietly.
I gripped the back of the seat. This was territory I didn’t venture into all that often. There was no use in it. But his expression was so genuine that I felt compelled to answer.
When I opened my mouth, no words came out. I closed it and tried again. “No.” I dug my fingers into the worn leather. “I don’t know where I was born. Or my birthday. I didn’t have a home until I was thirteen.”
Automatically, he reached for me. I stared at his arm outstretched in the space between us. He’d offered his support. It was up to me to take the risk and accept it. Not everyone was evil. Some people were even selfless. They weren’t all like the ones I’d known for years. The ones who took and took and took until there was nothing left.
My fingers twitched at my sides. I’d kissed this man, which was a miracle upon itself, but this almost felt like more. A sign of faith. Trust.
I lifted my gaze to patient blue eyes. How he knew that I needed to make this leap, I wasn’t sure. As assertive as Andrew was, he’d been careful when initiating touch. There was nothing he could do that was more important.
Tentatively, my fingers brushed his. A tingle of awareness shot through me. I was tempted to yank my hand back and shove it into my pocket, but I refrained. We’d touched before, though this was different. Monumental in a way that the other times hadn’t been. As I twined my fingers with his, I conveyed without words that I trusted him. Or at least to a degree.
Once I locked our fingers, he tugged me toward him. “Thank you for telling me.”
I blinked at him in confusion. Wasn’t he going to press for more? “I, um, I don’t talk about it much.”
I’d shared my history with Huxley because I’d believed he was someone I could trust. That had worked out worse than badly.
“I’ll be here to listen whenever you do want to.” He pressed a kiss to the back of my hand and stood. “Hungry?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do this.”
Hands linked,I locked up Delores, stuffed the money from the day in my bag, and we strolled down the street.
“Are we headed to the river?” I asked. Andrew didn’t have anything with him. I smiled to myself, wondering if he’d forgotten to bring dinner again.
