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“I’m taking you to lunch.”
She glances at the town clock on the edge of the bank building. “It’s after one.”
“I haven’t eaten. Have you?”
She hasn’t. Lunch is the one meal she usually skips, which puts her on edge when she comes over for dinner if I’m running late preparing it.
She rolls her eyes, thinking I’m going to lecture her, but she’s got a lot more to worry about than whether she ate lunch.
“Come on. I’ll take you for tacos.”
Her face lights up, her smile piercing my heart like the tip of a hot needle. “You’re not going to tell me I told you so?”
“No, I’m going to take you to lunch.” I take her hand and lead her to my truck.
“What about my car?”
“We’ll come back and pick it up after.”
I open my truck door, and she steps up on the running boards, climbing in. The skirt of her dress slips and reveals her bare leg. I clench the door with my fist and shut it, getting a hold of myself as I round the front of the truck.
“Hi, Jude.” Laurel, Gillian’s best friend, side-eyes me as she grabs the handle of the door to the bank. She waves to Sadie. “Date night?”
“It’s lunchtime, Laurel.”
Her eyes run over my body, though not in an appraising way. She cocks an eyebrow and giggles to herself. “Well… don’t do anything that earns you a spot on The Canary Post.” Her laughter continues as she opens the bank door and disappears inside.
I climb into the driver’s seat, and Sadie is looking at me. “What did Laurel say? Her new haircut looks cute.”
I start the truck and place my hand on the back of Sadie’s headrest, reversing out of the angled parking spot. “She says hi.”
“I should’ve gotten out to say thanks. She sent over muffins to my mom yesterday.”
I’m used to people like Laurel implying that Sadie and I are more than friends. The Willowbrook rumor mill is constantly speculating that we’re sleeping together or, for some reason, hiding a relationship, which makes no sense. My brothers constantly razz me about why I haven’t gone for Sadie, but I’ve always kept my feelings close to my chest. Since my mom died, Sadie’s been the woman in my life, and just when I think I’m ready to tell her how I feel, I hesitate, fear-stricken that I’ll fuck it all up and lose her all together. I’m not loveable like Ben or Emmett. I’m a grumpy asshole most of the time.
“I’m sure she knows you’re thankful. I’m starving.” I drive us to El Taco Cabana and park in the lot.
We both get out and meet on the sidewalk in front of my truck, walking to the door.
Ramon grabs two menus when he sees us come in. I’m not sure Willowbrook would have such great authentic Mexican food if Ramon Martinez hadn’t opened a restaurant using his grandmother’s recipes after he graduated from high school.
“Do you even need these?” Ramon asks, holding up the menus.
Sadie laughs and shakes her head. “Probably not.”
He drops them back on the hostess stand. “I figured. How are you guys? Lunch, huh?”
He walks us to our usual booth in the front corner, so we can watch the people go by, but still have a little privacy.
Sadie slides in on the one side, and I slide in across from her. “Jude surprised me.”
Ramon raises his eyebrows at me. “And you’re wearing a dress, and Jude’s all cleaned up. Did something change?”
Sadie grows quiet so I take the reins. “It’s just lunch, Ramon.”
Ramon nods, but I see his mind working. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if Sadie found some guy and dated him. What would the town think then? Although the thought of Sadie giving her sweet smiles to someone else causes my adrenaline to spike into rage mode.
“Enjoy, Sabrina will be out in a moment.”
