Page 46 of Colton’s Inferno

“There’s bananas foster in the kitchen. It’s delicious. There are only two servings left. If you want them, you gotta grab them now.”

Lucy had finished most of her sandwich and all but a few of her fries. She was full but not stuffed. “I couldn’t eat a whole dessert.”

“You can split one,” Ruth suggested. “There’s homemade vanilla ice cream.”

“Splitting the bananas foster sounds perfect,” said Aiden. “And I’ll take a cup of coffee.”

“You can bring a second cup,” said Lucy.

Ruth picked up the dirty dishes. “Be right back.”

Aiden waited until she was gone. “It’s still your turn.”

“Here’s what I really don’t get and wish that I understood,” she said. “I’m fascinated by how the mind works. It’s chemicals and reactions on a physical level. But it’s also emotions. Memories. Desires. Wants and needs. How do those all come into play to make us who we are?”

“That’s a really big question,” said Aiden.

“I know,” she said. “But I’d love to find out.”

“Why don’t you?” he asked. “The university here has a psychology program.”

The idea of learning what made her—and everyone else—tick was alluring.

But it would never work. She shook her head. “After my brother died, I didn’t do well. My last two years of high school, I barely passed all my classes. I don’t think Red Grove would let me in.”

“They have a program where you can get credit for life experience. You’ve run a business for years. That would count for something.”

“Then there’s the ranch. It takes all my time and more money than I have.”

“At least you know that it’s here, if things change.”

“Yeah,” she said. “I guess.”

Then again, that was the problem. Things were changing all the time, and Lucy just wanted life to stay the same.

Chapter 12

Aiden and Lucy had stayed at The Eatery for two hours, discussing movies, books, hobbies, and their jobs. But as Ruth started to wipe down tables and refill ketchup bottles, he knew it was time to go.

Rising from the bench, he took his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out several bills. He placed the money on the table. “Thanks, Ruth,” he called out.

“Will I see you tomorrow?” she asked.

“Probably,” he said.

“I figured.” Ruth laughed. “Nice to meet you, Lucy. I hope you come back again soon.”

“I will,” Lucy promised.

He opened the door and held it as Lucy walked past. He followed her outside. The sun had set long ago. Clouds blotted out the sky and the loamy scent of rain hung in the air.

“Thanks for asking me out,” she said, pulling a set of keys from the front pocket of her jeans.

“I’d like to see you again.”

“Me, too.” She stopped next to her car.

“When?” Dammit. He didn’t mean to sound so eager.