Reaching down, I pick up the book she dropped when she grabbed me, and hand it back to her. She stows it in her bag without a word. The server comes back, drops off her tea and sandwich, and leaves again. Brynn pours cream into the hot tea, and one sugar. I’ve never seen anybody have tea like that.
Reaching for the spoon, she stirs the swirling brown and white mixture. “I went to London when I was fourteen.” A faint smile dusts her lips. The spoon clinks the side of the cup. “My mother is impetuous, and my father is a sucker for her whims. So, off to London we went. I saw a woman having tea this way, and I tried it too.” She lifts the cup to her lips. “Since then, I’ve never had it any other way.”
“Can I sit?” I ask, hoping she won’t shut me down.
She motions to the empty seat, and I restrain myself from leaping into it. It’d be great if I could show some self-control around this girl.
“What are you up to? Just out and about on a Sunday afternoon?” Brynn takes a bite of her sandwich and waits for my answer.
“Grabbing lunch. My best friend, Anthony, is fixing my fender. He’s not charging me,” I add when I see her concerned look. “Save your pennies. Honestly.”
She evaluates me with those penetrating eyes, then I guess she decides I’m telling the truth, because she sits back and takes another bite.
“Did you make sour beef yesterday?”
She nods.
“And? How was it?”
“Not as bad as you’d think from the name of it. Actually, it was pretty good.” She smiles, a grin that reaches her ears.
She’s stunning. I’ve never seen anybody like her.
“Walt loved it. He said it tasted just like his wife used to make it.”
I bristle at the mention of Walt but keep my mouth shut. I don’t want a repeat of yesterday.
“So, you have a nice time with Walt?” I keep my tone light.
Brynn knows what I’m doing. She smirks. “Yes. He only threatened me once. Wait, no.” She touches the pad of her pointer finger to her chin and pretends to think. “Two times. Yes, two times. I almost forgot that second one.”
My eyes narrow, and she snickers.
A waving hand across the street gets my attention. It’s the woman from the Chinese food place. She’s holding our lunch in one hand and pointing to it with the other.
I get up from the table and tell Brynn I have to go.
“I’ll pick you up in the morning. Unless you’ve suddenly obtained a car.”
Her eyes flicker down to her lap. “Uh, no.”
Lucky me.
“Brynn, I’m curious about something.”
She shakes her head, exasperated. “What?” Her attitude is back.
I nod to her chest. “I want to know what your shirt says, but the lettering is kind of at an awkward position.”
She looks down at herself. “It says ‘Sorry I’m late, I didn’t want to come.’”
“Very funny.” I’m trying to look anywhere but at her chest. It’s a feat of gargantuan proportions. Her breasts are big, full, and round, and I’m trying desperately to forget the cleavage she has when she leans forward.
“Connor?”
I swing my gaze to her. “Yeah.”
She points across the street. “Your lunch?”
