CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Against all the wishes I made over the last five minutes, Trey is still here when I step past the counter into the main area of the diner. He still hasn’t touched his salad and his eyes track my movements across the white titled floor —— probably so he can intervene if I try to make a run for it. He’s right to be concerned. I considered it while in the back.
“You’re here.”
I sit in the wooden chair on the other side of Trey’s small table and cross one leg over the other.
He leans his body further over the table. “You promise to stay here?”
“Yes.”
Trey’s eyes narrow for a fraction of a second. “Say you promise.”
“Fine,” I blow out a breath in frustration. “I promise I’ll sit and hear you out. Now talk.”
The legs of his chair scrape on the floor as he stands. “I need to take a quick break. I’ll be back.”
He doesn’t look behind him, but walks with deliberate and quick steps to the back of the restaurant toward the bathrooms. I laugh at him. I guess he’s not a camel after all. The diner is relatively empty again as Jamie and a new person prepare for an upcoming dinner rush in a few hours.
My stomach grumbles as my eyes fall on Trey’s untouched salad. I should have stopped at the display case and bought a piece of cake to eat before our little meeting. I’m always crankier on an empty stomach. Although maybe it would help me stay focused so I won't be so forgiving with Trey. Aspen’s words from this morning about me being too sweet ring in my ears. But on the other hand, I can’t pretend Trey’s six-hour commitment to wait for me didn’t mean anything. Can I?
Trey pushes in his seat while I stare out the front window in a daze and I allow a few seconds to pass before my head moves to his direction. He pushes the salad bowl in front of me then positions the cake and drink to either side.
“Eat.”
His monosyllabic commands annoy me. “No.”
“Simone.”
“I’m not eating your food, Trey.” Can the man be more exasperating with his bossy commands that I secretly find exciting? Damn him for stirring something up I wanted to be done with.
“I ordered it for you. You ate the Caesar salad on vacation, you drink tea all the time, and who in their right mind doesn’t love chocolate cake?” He waves his hand in the air to indicate each item as if it should be simple knowledge what I like and don’t like.
Even, Jay, my old boss who I spent an exorbitant amount of time with never remembered I drink ice tea. What am I supposed to do when faced with the knowledge Trey notices those little things?
We stare one another down until my stomach threatens to cause me all kinds of trouble unless I eat. I narrow my eyes at him but pick up the napkin and unroll it for silverware. Trey doesn’t take his eyes off me until the first bite is in my mouth. Then with a final sigh, he leans back in his chair like everything is all right in the world because I ate a lettuce leaf.
“Mari and I met right after Finn and I left college. Her parents are well known in the area and she helped me navigate the business world for a while. When a chance came up for me to meet some investors, she was the best option to take with me as a date. Having her on my arm helped to get my foot in the door to places normally closed. I was young with no experience, money, or coveted last name to help me.”
He runs his thumb across his jaw once and leaves it on the side. “I’m not sure how it happened, but Mari became the easiest choice whenever I needed someone for a business event.”
The flippant way he sums up their history is a little disgusting and I even feel a sorry for Mari. I know Aspen doesn’t like her, but she hasn’t been horrible to me. If anything she should hate me for almost sleeping with her boyfriend.
I finish a bite of salad and sit the fork on the edge of the bowl. “So you’re using Mari for business contacts?
His eyes widen in the span of a blink. “No! Well, yes.”
I push back my chair and stand to leave done with this conversation.
“Wait, Simone. It’s not like that. Sit down. You promised you’d let me explain.”
“And I listened to your shitty explanation.” I continue to stand by the table but don’t walk away.
“Sit down, please.” His hand waves to the chair, but I don’t move. “Fine. Yes, in a way I used Mari, but she was in on the deal and used me too.”
His rigid posture is mismatched with the sincerity on his face, and against my better judgement I sit back in my chair. This time I cross my arms in front of me and don’t pick the fork back up.
“Mari’s family is old money, but the business is controlled by her grandfather and he has interesting beliefs.” He flicks his head to the side toward my salad and I reluctantly pick the fork back up.
