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“Oh, shoot, we’ve been talking too long. Gotta go!”
“Talk to you soon,” Leilah said in a rush, as the line went dead. Then she turned to Ryan with a bleak expression. “I can’t just sit in this room. I’ll be bouncing off the walls.”
He wanted to pull her into his arms and distract her in the most delightful way possible. But she was right. She was visibly vibrating with agitation. So, he pushed back against the urge and tucked his phone into his pocket, then he peered through the busted blinds.
“The rain’s stopped. Let’s stretch our legs and pick up some dinner.”
11
The Mexican restaurantdid not offer takeout. And, while she knew it was a risk to be out in public so close to where they dropped off the map, Leilah couldn’t stomach the thought of returning to the disgusting hotel room and dining on packaged snack foods. So she charmed and wheeled Ryan until he agreed to a quick dinner at the bar at the Fiesta Cantina.
“Keep your head on a swivel,” he cautioned as they took their seats at a high-top table wedged between the short end of the bar and the exterior windows.
She eyed him over the plastic menu. “In other words, stay frosty?”
“Exactly. Don’t worry, I have your six.”
They shared a chuckle at the jargon they’d both heard ad nauseam from the Potomac operatives. His smile faded quickly.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“I wish we knew where Trent and Marielle tracked Ahmadi to. Is he in Virginia? California? Toronto? Egypt? He could be anywhere. It’s hard to assess the risk without more information.” He blew out an irritated breath.
Her smile evaporated, too. “The fact that they’re still on his trail is encouraging, though. And presumably, Chelsea would’ve mentioned it if they thought he was close by. Right?”
He nodded, then cleared his throat. “Let’s talk about something else. Do you know what you want to eat?”
“Three cheese chimichangas. You?”
“Beef tacos. Want to share a platter of chips and guacamole?”
“Definitely.”
That decision made, she placed the menu down on the blue-and-white tiled tabletop and surveyed the bar. “This place is nicer than I thought it would be.”
“It’s in better shape than our room, that’s for sure.”
“About the motel—,” she began.
“What? Our budget bungalow isn’t meeting your expectations?” he teased.
“Let’s just say I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep there.” She shuddered at the thought.
“I’ve been thinking. We have enough cash to find someplace else. Any port in a storm and all that. But The Rest Hotel and the roach motel aren’t the only options. We could find a place closer to the colleges and hunker down until we hear from Chelsea.”
She exhaled as relief rolled over her. “Yes, let’s do that. Please. I swear I’d almost rather face those armed men than steel myself to walk into the bathroom.”
“You haven’t been in there yet?”
She shook her head.
“Good call. I’m sure I’ll have nightmares.” He feigned a dramatic shiver of his own.
“Thanks for understanding. Omar would call me a high-maintenance diva, but that place is …”
“Vile,” he supplied.
“You took the word right out of my mouth.”
