Anika came with their food. Sophia watched as she took in the pompous way Blayze had said what he had. “Not everyone’s cut out for it,” she said.
Blayze thanked Anika before shooting Sophia a pointed glance. “I couldn’t agree more.”
That sparked even more irritation. “Well, he’s probably going into politics now, like his father,” she said, straightening her shoulders when glancing at the spread. The rich, savory aroma was distracting her already. Which was a good thing, since Blayze seemed to be done with the topic as well.
They ate in silence for a moment or two. Sophia sampling both the chicken tikka masala and the palak paneer. “So, is that map thing something you learned in training?”
He shook his head. “No. It’s just a map I designed that… works the way my brain does, I guess.”
She ran her eyes over the jumbled map of circles, squares, initials and codes. It looked like a chaotic mess. “Hmm,” she only offered before taking another bite. “Have you ever tried these sauces before?” she couldn’t help but ask.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Aren’t you curious?”
He looked at her, a torn chunk of flat bread in one hand.
“Dip it,” she urged. “It’s good.”
Blayze surprised her by straightening his arm over the table and hovering the bread above her food. “Which one?” he asked.
She pointed to the masala.
“The orange one?” His face scrunched up like a little kid’s.
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh. “Trust me.”
“All those years eating overseas and I never touch the stuff,” he mumbled. “Get me across from Ms. Vasco and she’s got me sampling food that barely looks edible.” He dunked a corner of the naan, dragged it across the edge of the dish, and brought it to his mouth.
Sophia stared at him in suspense, oddly satisfied that she’d gotten him to try it. “Well?”
He nodded. “That’s actually pretty good.”
She grinned, more gratified than she wanted to admit. “Please,” she said, sliding the dish to the center and nodding toward it. “I got two dishes for a reason.”
He dipped another chunk into the orange sauce, eyeing the green dish with a wary brow.
“Feeling brave?” she asked.
Blayze shook his head, dunked in the masala again.
Sophia reached over the table and gave his forearm a pat. “You’ve had enough for today, little padawan.
“Yeah, yeah,” he mumbled, straightening up and attending to his notebook once more. He flipped the page, rested the rather-dull tip of his pencil on a fresh sheet. “Let’s talk about your schedule this week.”
Sophia tugged her planner from her large purse and rested it on the table. It contrasted Blayze’s messy mind map in every way. Straight lines, neat print, and as organized as a planner could be. She gave him a breakdown of her schedule. Tonight was the only night she’d be home this week. First thing tomorrow morning, they would head straight to California State University. The press would be there, along with thousands of anxious attendees.
“It’s likely that not one thing I say will get on the news, with all of the other elections going on right now, but I have to be prepared. If I mess up or say something wrong, they’re guaranteed to use that. Especially the news stations that support my father’s opponent. Sometimes I get the impression my one job isn’t to hit it out of the park, rather to keep from fouling, if you know what I mean.”
“I relate,” he said. “Half the time we’re doing good just to stay alive.”
Sophia nodded, his comment striking the deep admiration she had for the brave souls who served as he did. She was about to say so when Blayze spoke up again.
“I never realized running for District Attorney was such a big deal,” he said. “If I didn’t know better I’d think your father was running for governor or something.”
She nodded. “Yes. But if you consider all the power DA’s have, it makes a lot of sense.”
“Last item of business,” he said. “You asked that I don’t discuss things with Roman or your father without you. Or at least, that I don’t withhold any information from you. I ask that you do that same thing. If something happens, you come to me since I’m the one hired as your protector.”
