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“Like ten years ago,” Sofi said, wondering if maybe she should branch out and make new friends who didn’t know her dating history.
“And he was a winner,” Leia said sarcastically.
Last Rob was indeed the opposite of a winner. He’d ended up dating a now ex-friend of both Sofi and Leia.
“Not all Robs will be the same.” Sofi pointed out the obvious.
“I guess.” Leia sounded unconvinced. “I’m just glad Austin will be there to judge this Rob as well.”
“About that . . . ” Sofi shifted in her seat and pulled a throw pillow into her lap, holding it like a shield.
Leia groaned.
“I don’t want him hovering over my dates physically as well.” Sofi knew she didn’t have to explain that Austin would obviously be on that date even if he wasn’t there in the flesh, because Sofi was a fool and brought Austin in her heart everywhere she went.
“You can’t ask me not to tell him. Or the Tías. I promised to report back to both.”
“And that’s why I won’t tell you the night of the date. That way you won’t have to keep a secret. Tell them I’m planning a date and that you don’t know more. They can hound me for details.” Sofi sounded braver than she felt. She didn’t actually want anyone hounding her for anything. But thankfully the date was scheduled for tomorrow, so she wouldn’t have to keep her secret long. She’d even told Rob she’d meet him halfway between Fruitland and Blue Falls so she wouldn’t just happen to run into anyone she knew.
“What Austin doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” Sofi finished when she finally got Leia to nod in agreement.
“What don’t I know?”
Sofi sprang from the couch at the sound of his voice, her pillow flying. Why had she given him a key to their place?
More importantly, how much had Austin overheard?
“Nothing,” Leia quipped, followed by a nervous giggle. Sofi was sure Leia had been startled as well.
“Why are you sneaking up on us?” Sofi accused, feeling it was better to go on the offensive and ignore Austin’s question altogether.
“So I can hear things like ‘what Austin doesn’t know won’t hurt him,’ obviously.” Austin headed for the kitchen but made a sharp detour into the living room when he noticed Sofi’s still mostly full plate of dinner.
He pointed to it, Sofi nodded, and their conversation went on without a pause.
“I was speaking in the privacy of my home,” Sofi said, and if she were standing she would have put her hands on her hips. But she settled for leaning over to grab her cushion and holding it defensively against her chest.
“About me. Therefore I have a right to know what the conversation was about. Wait, let me guess,” Austin said in that aggravating way. So calm, even as Sofi’s gut churned with anxiety that he would sniff out the truth.
“Let’s see . . . it could have been about my rugged handsomeness or my charming personality,” Austin mused as he dug into Sofi’s meal and let out a groan, his head tilted back in pure bliss.
“You, Sof, have a gift,” he said the same way he did anytime he ate Sofi’s food. Which was nearly daily.
Sofi couldn’t take the compliment because she was too busy berating herself. She should have made sure to have her conversation with Leia in the privacy of her bedroom later on that night. Leia had started the conversation by asking, but Sofi could have put her off. She’d known Austin just showing up was a high probability.
Just like he’d probably show the next night. But since she was working the early shift and could get out of the mercado by five, she’d be well out of Blue Falls and already at wherever she and Rob decided to get dinner by the time Austin figured out she wasn’t home.
“But I’m guessing whatever you’re talking about must be something I don’t know and I obviously know those first two things already,” Austin went on.
“Obviously,” Sofi deadpanned. “Can you just drop it?”
Austin shook his head. “No can do, Sof. For your sake as much as mine.”
Sofi rolled her eyes. What she should do was shove Austin out of her house and let him keep wondering. But since he had a key he’d find his way right back in and Austin was like a dog with a bone when it came to figuring out the truth, at least when he cared about it. So Sofi was probably better off just telling him the truth, saving them both time.
But she wasn’t going to tell him everything. Let Austin get out of her that she had a date. Though she wouldn’t be telling him when or where. It helped that Sofi still didn’t know exactly where the date would be.
“Is what you you’re keeping from me the reason why you’re online dating? Because you haven’t told me about that, by the way,” Austin commented before Sofi could say anything more. He took another bite and chewed while thoughtfully watching Sofi.
