Archie climbs back into the back seat beside me, and the car immediately shifts into motion.
“Looks like you still have your balls,” he says.
I look behind us.
Margot’s car is already gone.
“She’s somehow the nicest person in the world and also the most terrifying at the same time,” I say.
“What’s she up to?”
“I have too many guesses to settle on a single one.”
He nods to the note in my hand. “That Daphne’s phone number?”
“That’s what it claims to be.”
“Do I need to plug my ears while you call her?”
I glance at the number, and then up at my friend.
And then I’m the one smiling.
“No. I’m doing something way better than calling.”
36
LOVE IS ALWAYS BETTER WITH BURGERS
Daphne
Bea’s burger bus—nowcalled Spite Burgers, complete with the name graffitied over the old logo and design, and complete with a new placard mounted next to the menu explaining the history of the name—is still open when I leave work early Monday.
“I thought you were selling out every day,” I say to her as I slouch at the chef’s table in the back of the bus. I haven’t eaten much today, but even the scent of her burgers and fries isn’t making me hungry like it would’ve a few weeks ago.
My stomach is twisted in too many knots.
I could go to Manhattan. I could find Oliver. I could get Archie’s number and make him give me Oliver’s number since Margot refused when I asked her to get it for me.
She actually hasn’t taken my calls at all since the day after I got home, but she warned me she’d be busy, and it wouldn’t be about me if she couldn’t talk for a bit, even if I heard it was, and that I had to trust her.
I do.
I mean, I’m trying to.
But for once in my life, fear is in control.
Fear that Oliver doesn’t want me.
Fear that it was all a dream.
Fear that the magic spell we were under has snapped for him, and he’s come to his senses and realized I’d be more trouble than I’m worth.
I’m fraidy-cat Daphne, and I hate it, but I can’t make myself fix it.
“She’s not only selling out, she’s having numerous requests for private parties every day,” Simon answers for her. “We prepared more food today though. Marvelous solution to such a lovely problem.”
He’s shirtless and lingering in the window of the bus, drawing people in. His boys are enjoying their last days of summer vacation, playing video games at a friend’s house, so he—and one of his security guys—are here with Bea today.
