I am with Mateo.
I snort as I type this. What is he getting at? Does he think I am lying?
Jameson
Where are you both?
Okay, I didn’t tell him where, but we are still near Houston.
Evie
We are in Galveston?
I type it out because I don’t want him to worry. This line of questioning is kind of worrisome. He has never been like this, and it is starting to make me nervous. I can see that he is typing, as the three little dots show under his message.
Jameson
Who are you with, and where? I need all the information Evie.
I am now starting to panic. I look around the coffee shop and don’t see anything conflicting or unusual that would make me suspicious. I am pretty good at sensing danger at this point. Nothing is screaming ‘dangerous situation’ at me.
I feel Mateo looking at me. I meet his gaze, and his expression remains neutral, but his eyes are questioning. I ignore it and look back at my phone, typing out a response.
Evie
I am at the usual coffee shop with Mateo and his friend Ramón.
His response comes quickly.
Jameson
Perfect.
I make a jerky body movement, and annoyance starts to creep in. I type a nonthreatening questioning response.
Evie
WTF?
I see his following message and throw my phone down on the table.
Jameson
I’ll explain later…
Idon’t bother responding this time. I’m just annoyed, but I am sure there has to be a good reason for that line of intense and very specific questioning. I cross my arms over my chest and kick my feet out in front of me in a pissed-off stance.
I look over to my brother and see him and Ramón staring at me and wondering why I have been reacting to my messages in that manner.
“Jameson is being vague. And super annoying,” I say to them with an eye roll.
Mateo laughs, and Ramón smiles. “Ah, young love,” he comments with a faraway look in his eyes, as if he is remembering a moment that is now just a distant memory—a blip in time. Maybe he is thinking about his wife. Whatever it is, he doesn’t elaborate or comment further.
They return to their game, and I sit there wondering what is going on right now.
Bored with my situation, I stand up and leave them to their game—Ramon is clearly winning this round—and walk over to the water station and fill up a cup of iced water, adding a lemon to it.
I stand looking over at the sun reflecting off the water outside. I feel someone looking at me, and I turn to see Dylan. I lift a challenging brow. He looks as if he is going to walk my way, and I almost want him to do so, so I can let him know what I think of him. I am saved by the bell when a young woman comes through with a stroller, her eyes bright and cheerful. Dylan turns to her in surprise and then spares a quick glance my way, schooling his features.
