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“No leads yet. The guy just disappeared. He didn’t even use my credit cards before I canceled them, so I’m not sure what the point of all that was besides making me have to get a new phone and purse.”
“You might never know the answer,” I say.
She nods and the silence returns for another block. The fro-yo place comes into view another few blocks away.
“Your friends seem nice. Brando is hilarious.”
I smirk. “Yea, they’re alright. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“It’s great you have people you can count on.”
“Who do you count on?”
“I have John for sure, and my dad, Henry, lives in Texas. He’s a retired cop. I have my best friend, Vera. She and I go way back to high school.”
“What about your mom?”
She frowns and puts her hands in the pockets of her zip up hoodie. “She left when I was ten. Haven’t heard from her since.”
“That must have been rough. I’m sorry to hear that.”
She glances at me and nods. We reach the shop and I open the door for her.
I hand her a cup and gesture to the self-serve station. She smiles and takes in the different options while I grab my go-to. She meets me at the line to pay at the counter and peers into my cup, then looks up at me with a grin.
“Oh yea, we’re going to get along great,” she says.
I chuckle and look into her cup. We both got chocolate with coconut.
“It was meant to be.” I clear my throat and focus on the artwork on the wall when I realize what I just said. God, I’m so lame.
“I don’t know, you’re missing almonds. Could be a deal breaker,” she says, grinning at me.
I laugh. “I guess we can’t all be perfect.”
She pushes her ponytail behind her shoulder. “Yea, it’s a tough job. Not for everyone.”
I chuckle and step up to the cashier and hand the woman my card. We head outside to a small table on the wooden deck and I watch her watch the sunset. She’s beautiful, but this feels like something more. I can’t explain it, but there’s this warm glow that settles in my bones when she’s near.
She scoops fro-yo into her mouth and gestures to the sky with her spoon. “Can’t beat sunsets in San Diego.”
“Are you from here?”
She nods and stuffs a big scoop into her mouth with confidence. She has me mesmerized.
“Where are you from?” she asks after she swallows.
“LA.” I’m vague on purpose. I’m convinced she has no idea who I am. It’s refreshing.
“Not too far. Please tell me you like San Diego better.”
I laugh and nod. “Of course, but I’ll deny it if anyone else asks.”
She chuckles and I scoop the frozen treat in my mouth.
“So, what about your family? Are they still in LA?” she asks.
“My sister attends UCSD. I moved down here when she started two years ago. Our parents are dead.”
