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Sutton cleared her throat, causing me to jerk my eyes back to Mason.
He smiled again, but that was the only thing he did. His eyes were void of any emotion at all.
“I was speaking with her, but I declined her invitation for breakfast.”
“Oh,” I said, because it was the only thing my stupid brain could come up with.
“Don’t tell Mom and Dad I even suggested this,” Sutton started. “But there’s that new little breakfast place down by the pier. It has a beautiful view of the bay, and I bet with all the snow we’ve gotten, the beach looks stunning. I heard their breakfast tacos are to die for.”
Mason looked at Sutton. “Addie was telling me about that place. They’re only open for breakfast, but they also do lunch on the weekends. I think she said it’s called Taco Hut.”
Sutton pointed at Mason. “Yes! That’s it. And Palmer here was commenting on how hungry she is.”
“I was?” I asked in a sarcastic tone.
Sutton elbowed me. “Yes, you were.”
I shrugged. “Apparently, I’m starving. I will admit, a breakfast taco does sound rather good right now.”
Mason’s eyes lit up. “Great. I’ll drive, if you’re okay with that.”
“Let me grab my jacket and stuff, and I’ll be right back.”
Trying to walk normally instead of dashing to the back office, I casually strolled through the kitchen. Once I got to my parents’ office, I pulled my coat and hat on and grabbed my gloves.
When I spun around, I screamed.
My father clutched at his chest. “Jesus, Mary, and all the saints, Palmer! Do you want to give me another heart attack?”
“Dad, oh my God! Are you okay?”
He nodded and then shook his head. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Oh. I was going to, ahhh…”
“Leave?”
“If that’s okay? Sue seems to be good with covering my tables. You don’t mind, do you?”
“No. Where are you and Mason headed off to?”
I went to speak but couldn’t. I simply stood there with a blank expression.
He smirked. “Cat got your tongue?”
Because I was the youngest, and I knew my father was fully aware of what I was doing, I confessed my sin.
“I’m going to Taco Hut with Mason for breakfast tacos.”
My father closed his eyes, drew in a long, deep breath, and then snapped them open again. “Bring me back two bacon, egg, and potato tacos—and I want the green sauce.”
My mouth fell open and stayed open until my father reached over and shut it with his finger. “Hurry before I put you back to work.”
Mason
The ride to Taco Hut was silent for the first few minutes before Palmer clearly couldn’t take it anymore.
“Why is she here? Does Charlie know she’s here? Has she demanded to see him again?”
I fought to keep from smiling as I answered each question. “She refuses to leave. She claims it’s because I won’t let her see Charlie, but I know better.”
“You’re sure that’s not why?”
I nodded. “As for your second question, no, Charlie does not know she’s here, and I want to keep it that way. I think my first answer covered your last question.”
“I’m so sorry she’s causing you stress. Why did you meet up with her this morning?”
“I was actually looking for you.”
She snapped her head in my direction. “You were looking for me?”
“Yep,” I said as I put my turn signal on and pulled into the parking lot. “Addie told me you were covering a shift this morning. We didn’t have any patients scheduled, so I thought maybe we could talk since you’ve been avoiding me.”
“I have not!”
I laughed. “Palmer, I’ve called, I’ve stopped by your place, and I’ve texted you. I haven’t heard from you since the night of Christmas.”
“I’ve been…busy.”
I put the car in park and unbuckled to face her. “Doing what?”
“Doing what?”
“Yes, Palmer, doing what?”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out so she shut it, opened the door, and got out. Laughing, I followed suit.
Once we were inside the Taco Hut, we both ordered and then went and sat down at a table. There were three other couples in the place, all on the other side of the restaurant.
After Palmer took a sip of the Diet Pepsi she’d ordered, she sat back. “Did you see today’s paper?”
I internally winced. “I did.”
“A love triangle. I mean, really?”
“Why do you let it bother you so much? Who cares what people think?”
“I worry about Charlie.”
I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. She tried to pull it back as she looked around nervously.
“Palmer, look at me.”
Reluctantly, she did.
“Charlie is fine. I’m fine. No one’s getting hurt because of a gossip column.”
“For now.”
“No, not for now. Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”
Her eyes searched my face as she stalled for time.
“Don’t think so hard and be honest with me,” I said. “Please.”
“We can’t be anything more than friends, Mason.”
