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“Okay,” she said, squeezing herself tight again. She looked tired.
“I just got off work. I’m starving. Have you eaten?”
She shot a look toward her kitchen. “Kind of.”
“Kind of? Is that like ‘pretty much’?”
“Shut up,” she said, pouting a little now. He noticed that her lips were full and pink even without lipstick.
“Come to dinner. We can have a drink and talk.”
“Nope. I never want to have a drink or talk again.”
“Food, though?” he pressed. “Food sounds good?”
Her head dropped. She took a deep breath. “I’m not even dressed.”
“You look dressed to me.”
“I’m wearing yoga pants and a T-shirt.”
“Throw on a hoodie and you’ve got a look. Let’s go.”
She finally cracked a smile, though she tried to hide it. Gabe ducked down and met her eye. “Come on. You’ve got to eat.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t planning on leaving the house today.”
“Why?”
She groaned and rubbed a hand over her face. “Because I didn’t want to take the chance I’d run into you.”
“Well, shit, I really screwed that up. No wonder you didn’t want to see me. I’ve ruined everything.”
“You’re a dork,” she muttered, but this time there was no hiding her smile. Her eyes crinkled at the edges and her gaze rose to his. He suddenly remembered the way she’d leaned close and whispered the word fucking to him the night before.
Gabe stood straighter and cleared his throat. “What sounds good? Mexican?”
“Oh, God, yes.”
“Mexican is always good after a hangover. Come on. My treat.”
Despite what he thought was an inspiring tone, she still stared doubtfully at him for quite a while. He wasn’t sure why he felt so invested in getting her out for dinner, but he wasn’t going to give up.
“I look like shit,” she finally said.
“You’re beautiful,” he answered.
Her face flickered in a brief frown, but she hid it quickly. “Whatever. I’m starving. Let’s go before I change my mind.”
Gabe stopped himself from raising a fist in triumph.
She slipped on flip-flops, took a hoodie from the closet by the door and grabbed her keys. Her toenails were painted bright blue. Gabe knew it was a bad sign that he found that impossibly cute.
They headed toward a place four blocks away that even Gabe already knew was the best Mexican in town. She had her arms crossed tight again, pushing her breasts up in a way that caught Gabe’s eye.
Damn. There was no way to pretend she hadn’t told him what she’d told him. She clearly wanted to forget, but Gabe might need electroshock therapy to shake last night loose. Are you sure you won’t stay? He was afraid she’d never ask that again.
When they reached a busier street, Veronica pulled her fleece jacket on and tugged up the hood as if she was hiding.
