I shrugged, my happy mask slippingmomentarily.
“Are you ever going to talk aboutwhat happened?”
I breathed through my nose so hewouldn’t notice the panic sizzling beneath my skin. He knew the story. At leastI’d told him a version of what had happened when I first came home. But thathad been the last time I talked about it. It wasn’t worth bringing up again. “There’snothing to talk about. We didn’t work out. Relationships end all the time.”
“Not usually by one of them runningaway to Europe for the year. Did he even try to come after you? Or reach outand apologize for everything?”
I shuddered at Vann’s word usage.Derrek had no idea where I’d gone. I’d made sure of that specifically becausehe would have come after me if he had. But he had bothered my dad for a longtime. And if I wouldn’t have deleted my email, social media accounts andcanceled my phone, he probably would have found me and hunted me down.
Europe wasn’t far enough away tostop him.
Hell, Jupiter wasn’t far enoughaway.
Or maybe not. Maybe he finallyunderstood that I was finished. Europe wasn’t the first time I’d broken up withhim. It was just the first time it had stuck.
And only because I didn’t consulthim on the decision. I just left. It was hard to convince someone to stay ifthey weren’t there to manipulate.
My phone burned in my pocket. All ofhis unanswered Facebook messages felt extra heavy tonight.
“I flew straight to Amsterdam, Vann.What was he going to do? Hop on a plane and scour the city looking for me?”
For the first time in his life, Vannlooked passionate about something. Not just serious. Not just involved, butzealous. “Yeah. That. Or the whole damn country. If you love a girl, if she’sthe one, you don’t let an ocean stop you. You go after her. You don’t let herget away.”
My brother had been invaded by thebody snatchers. It was the only explanation. Vann didn’t do commitment. I’dnever seen him date someone for longer than a couple of months. He didn’t eventake love seriously. He always said he was allergic to it. So, what was this?
“Where is this coming from?” Iasked, shocked.
He looked out the window, avoidingmy stare. “It’s not coming from anywhere. That’s just the way of it. You gohard after people you care about or you probably never cared about them tobegin with.”
“Then you should probably stopdating nice girls. You’re not going to findMs.-fly-across-the-world-to-get-her-back in your current pool ofavailables.”
He shrugged and checked his pocketsfor his wallet. “You never know, Vera. She might turn out to be the one.”
“You really think so?”
An amused smile lifted the cornersof his mouth. “No, but she can be the one tonight.”
“You’re so gross.”
“And late. I have to go. You sureyou’re okay on your own? Do you want me to send Dad over?”
“I’m fine. When Wyatt comes over forhis break, I’ll ask him to walk me to my car later.”
“Alright sounds good. Lock the doorbehind me.”
I saluted him because that’s whatlittle sisters did. He waved me off and headed out. I did as he asked andlocked the door as soon as he stepped outside.
Oh, Vann. I didn’t get hisrelationship issues. I had tons of reasons to swear off men and dating.
But his history with girls was soboring.
Busy. But overall, uneventful.
A few people walked up to the truck,and I threw myself back into my work. I hadn’t been lying when I told Vann I’dask Wyatt to walk me to my car later, even if I had to close up a little early.Killian might have been avoiding me, but I fully expected Wyatt at some point. Hewas like the stray puppy I’d accidentally adopted.
After I’d taken their money, I gotto work, making tacos as quickly as possible and putting it in a box withsrirachaesquitesand a lemonwedge. I handed the boxes out the window, warning them that it might be a bitspicy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someonestep up to the order window, so I passed out some extra napkins and left themto enjoy their meals.
