I’d texted him a question aboutspices just to get a reaction from him, but he’d been radio silent.
The floodlights outsideLilouflicked off, and staff started to pour out the sidedoor. Closing time for them. Usually, I stayed open for another two hours, butthere wasn’t any point tonight.
I watched the staff fromLilouwalk to the parking lot, stripping out of their coatsand bandanas as they went.
Nerves abruptly pricked at the backof my neck and forearms. I realized I’d been staying open, hoping to catch aglimpse of Killian. I’d been addicted to my phone today, hoping he’d text. Iwas becoming the girl that I hated. The girl I never wanted to be again.
“Let’s go,” I told Vann. “This isn’tworth staying open for.”
“You sure?”
I appreciated what a good sport hewas, but now I was suddenly very anxious to get going. “Yeah, I’m sure. I justhave to clean up a bit.”
He nodded and started going throughthe money.
It wouldn’t take long since we’donly had a minimum of customers tonight. A strong wind blew through thewindows, rustling the papers and money, sending Vann scrambling after bills andorder tickets. The menu sign hanging on the outside of the truck smackedagainst the siding and then lifted with the wind and slapped it again.
“Oh, geez.” I left Vann to deal withthe money while I rushed outside to grab the sign before it damaged the siding.
A fat raindrop landed on my foreheadjust as soon as I stepped outside. Sliding the menu off its hook, I turnedaround and nearly ran into Wyatt.
He squinted against the windwhipping him in the face. “Hey.”
My hand landed on my franticallypounding heart, and I breathed in sharply through my nose. Apparently, I wasterrified of Derrek showing up again if my reaction to Wyatt’s surprise visitwas anything to go by. I tried to appear unruffled, though. “Hey, sorry. We’reclosing. We want to get out of here before the rain gets bad.”
“Oh, no, that’s not why I’m here.”He glanced over his shoulder nervously, and I immediately knew something wasup.
“What’s wrong?”
His lips pressed into a frown, andhe played with his eyebrow ring nervously. “Have you talked to Killian today?”
“I haven’t heard from him sinceyesterday.”
He rubbed a hand over his face,pulling his bottom lip into a U. “You should talk to him,” Wyatt coaxed.
It annoyed me that he was in mybusiness. Especially after I’d just decided I didn’t need to talk to Killiantonight. “Maybe.”
“He got an early look at the reviewthis afternoon, Vera. TheGourmandarticle. It’s not good.”
The menu dropped on the tips of mytoes. “What do you mean it’s not good?”
“Noble hated everything. Everysingle thing. And he didn’t hold any punches.”
I could not process his words. Like,they didn’t make sense. They weren’t in English or something. “That’s notpossible.”
He gave me a look before duckingwhen another plump raindrop landed on his nose. “Ezra tried to get the magazineto retract the article, but they won’t. It’s going out next month.”
“It’s just one article,” I arguedpointlessly. “In one magazine. Killian can survive that.”
Wyatt shrugged, stuffing his handsinto his pockets. “He’s not taking it well. He needs a friend.”
“So, go talk to him.”
He rolled his eyes so hard I thoughtone of them might get stuck. “Pretty sure I’m not the person he wants consolinghim at midnight. Don’t be mean.”
I stared at Foodie for a long time,my shoulders catching sporadic raindrops. The temperature dropped another few degrees,pulling goosebumps from my legs and arms.
“I’ll think about it,” I finallyadmitted. “Thanks, Wyatt.”
