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“Done. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.”
Lowering the phone, I kept my gaze focused on the road. The air in the car felt charged. I hadn’t even thought twice about leaning over Archer. But I had to remind myself that we weren’t friends anymore. Acquaintances, maybe; friends, no.
Despite our age difference, we’d always gotten along. I’d turned thirty-one last month and had always planned on having a family by the time I turned thirty. But that was a dream I had to give up on as long as I was married to William.
Everleigh was two years younger than me, but we were in the same grade in high school. Not only had Mom forgotten to enroll me in school, which meant I went a year later than normal, but I also had trouble reading and writing and had to do third grade twice.
We pulled up into the small parking lot where the food truck was. My mouth watered at the thought of their tacos. And burritos. I might also get nachos.
The only good thing my mom ever gave me was her quick metabolism. I was slender without having to do anything for it.
A hand on my arm stopped me from getting out. “Wait in the car until I open your door.”
Nodding, I sank back into the seat.
Archer exited, taking in the busy parking lot. Once he was satisfied nobody was going to attack me, he opened my door. “Stay by my side at all times. If I tell you to get back in the car, I want you to do it immediately. No arguments.”
Our arms brushed, and I shivered. “Got it. I’ll stay glued to you the whole time we’re here.”
We walked up to the truck, Archer’s attention never straying from our surroundings, one hand near his gun, the other on my back. It took everything in me not to arch into his touch.
“Thea, darling, where have you been?” Darleen greeted me. She was from Texas, and the food truck was her baby. She knew everyone who came more than once by name.
“I was sick last week. And since that meant I had to go a whole week without your tacos, I’ll need one of everything.”
Laughing, she pulled out ingredients. “No problem, hon.” Nodding at Archer, she grinned. “And what will your guest have?”
Shaking his head, Archer turned his attention back to the parking lot. “I’m good, thanks.”
Leaning closer to the window, I lowered my voice. “Make him a burrito. With extra jalapeños.”
Darleen chattered away while she cooked our food.
“How’s Walter?” I asked.
“Much better. Thanks for asking. He hasn’t been able to go outside and is marking the house in protest.”
“Seems to me all males are the same.”
We both cackled before I turned to Archer. “Her cat’s had surgery. And he hates being cooped up in the house.”
He didn’t show he’d heard me or was interested in my attempt to include him in the conversation. His indifference hurt more than I was prepared for. He didn’t seem interested in engaging with me more than on a professional level.
Darleen handed me a paper bag filled to the brim, a heavenly smell wafting out of it.
Archer took the bag and carried it to the car. The gesture surprised me, but I was happy he wasn’t acting like a complete robot.
“See you in a few days?” Darleen called after us.
Turning back around, I waved at her. “Definitely.”
Archer handed the food back to me once I was sitting down, and I cradled the bag as if it were a baby.
“Can we stop at Pacific Beach on the way back?” I loved the beach and went there whenever I had a chance.
Raising a brow but not commenting, Archer grunted in reply. It sounded like an affirmative grunt, so I gave him directions to my favorite spot.
