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“I don’t want to go to your woman’s food truck.” I folded my arms over my chest.
His expression darkened. “Why not?” He was insulted on her behalf.
“It’s not the food. Or Trish.”
Light dawned in his eyes. “Baker.”
I’d tried and failed miserably not to think about her.
I’d needed to get away, yet it was already too far. Last night, I’d pushed her to avoid talking about myself. That was the coward’s way, but I wasn’t ready to face her yet.
And I’d reacted the exact same way with the Marlow situation. I didn’t know how to break the pattern and I hated that. When would I stop it?
“Something happen between you two?” Andrew’s brow furrowed as he slid his hands into his pockets.
“Isn’t that why you’re here? I’m sure Dad told you I’m crashing with him for a few days.”
“Actually, he didn’t.”
“Well, now you know,” I said bitterly. “Let’s do this. I need to be back in less than an hour.”
“Holt.”Trish’s smile brightened when she saw me in her window. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“What about me?”
Her smile turned soft. “You’re a great surprise too.”
I was happy and jealous of my brother in one chaotic swirl. I tried to force the envy away, but it clung tightly with its talons.
“What’s good at this place?” I scratched my temple, and she laughed.
“If you came by more often, you’d know.”
“I’ve been sampling your dishes. The chicken roll things are my favorite. Oh, and those potatoes with the cheese and I don’t know what else. But they’re good.”
Her grin widened. “I wondered what Baker was doing with all that food she ordered.”
“Spoiling me.” The words were out before I could take them back. I’d had no lunch packed today. No smile or kiss before work. Hell, no messy hair and sleepy eyes to wake up to.
Andrew cleared his throat. “I’ll have my usual.”
Trish passed two large glasses of lemonade to us.
“And I’ll have the same.” I pasted on a pleasant expression, though my day was getting worse by the moment.
What was I thinking when I told her we needed space? That was the last thing I wanted. Sleeping in separate rooms last night was too much, but I’d thought we needed the distance before we pushed each other past the point where we hurt each other too badly to salvage any kind of relationship, even friendship.
“Go grab that bench. I’ll wait for the food.” Andrew pointed with his chin toward the empty seat.
I parked it and slouched on the bench, my legs spread wide. I should have stood my ground, told my brother today wasn’t a good day for this. If I’d kept working, my mind couldn’t totally focus on Easy. Now, I couldn’t get her out of it.
“Here you go.” My brother held out a container with my lunch. “What happened?” His ass had barely hit the seat before he started in.
“Nothing.” I stabbed my fork into a piece of chicken.
He snorted. “Have it your way.” He sucked down a swallow of lemonade. “I tried to call Marlow. Several times. She won’t answer.”
“Don’t want to talk about that either.” I was quickly losing my appetite.
