Peeking at Rip, I could see he’d pulled a magazine out of somewhere—his pocket?—and unrolled it beside him. But it looked like he was dragging his tongue over his teeth, making a face as he did it. My food had that effect on people.
I thought about what to write her back, before finally glancing down at the new food in my container. It was exactly like what I had thought: stir-fried rice with veggies and a chicken thigh. I scooped up some rice with my fork and shoved it into my mouth, blinking as I chewed and swallowed.
I slid my gaze over to Rip and took another bite.
It was freakingdelicious.I wondered if he’d made it or—or what? Unless he had a cook who went over to his place—or a woman who made his food—he’d made it.
Maybe it was a woman who made it for him. I had no idea if he had a girlfriend. Or maybe not even a girlfriend but just a… friend. Maybe with benefits. No one had ever mentioned him having a woman in his life, and it wasn’t like he brought anyone over to the shop other than the guy he’d met in the lot.
“Did you make this?” I asked him.
He didn’t even glance at me. “Uh-huh.”
Okay then. I texted Lily a response while I scooped more food into my mouth.
Me:I really don’t want to go, Lily.
Lily:Come on. Do it. Who knows, maybe you’ll hit it off. I promise he’s really cute.
I knew he was cute. She had shown me a picture of him at least three times. That wasn’t the point though.
Lily:But I’ll see if he can go another day if you want.
I didn’t feel like going in the first place, but… I was supposed to be trying. So…
I glanced at Rip again, watching as he flipped through the magazine while digging his fork into his food without looking at it. He’d shared his food with me. Food he’d made.
The heart wants what it wants, but the brain knows what it can get.
And it was with that thought that I wrote her back.
Me:Yeah, if you can.
Lily:Okay, I will.
I only slightly felt like a jerk after that, but at least I wasn’t outright cancelling. I was still trying. Just… not today.
For some reason, I glanced to my other side to see what Mr. Cooper was doing since he’d been so quiet, and I had to pause, looking at him when I saw the smile he had on his face while he ate his sandwich.
“Is it that good?” I couldn’t help but ask him.
His blue eyes came to me, that smile still on his face, and Mr. Cooper chuckled lightly. “Yeah, it’s that good, Luna.” His smile grew even wider right before he moved a hand to pat the top of my head. “Best sandwich I’ve ever had.”
* * *
Hours later,when it was five o’clock and I was pretty much done with my work for the day, which consisted of me barely talking to Jason, who had been eerily decent, I checked my phone again and found more messages from Lily spread out over the afternoon.
Lily:I emailed him but haven’t heard back.
Lily:Still nothing
Lily:No response, mama Luna. I gotta get to work, but I’ll see if he writes me back. Sorry. <3
He hadn’t responded?
What if he’d gone to the bar we had agreed to meet at and was going to wait?
I sent my sister a text and told her it was fine then grabbed my things to head out. Rip was busy talking to a couple of the shop guys, so I couldn’t even wave goodbye to him. I did call out bye to Miguel, who was still watching me like I was going to hurl vomit at him from across the room.
