They had that back corner in the cluttered store all to themselves.For the moment, anyway.
He drew back to study her face, brushing her hair back and wiping away her tears.The need to care for her, to make things better, to fix the unfixable was as powerful as anything he’d ever felt.“What can I do?”
She shrugged as she shook her head.“There’s nothing anyone can do.”
“Where’re the kids?”
“Home with my friend Mrs.Ventura.She came when she heard and said she’ll stay as long as I need her.”
“I’m glad you’re being well supported.What’d you come in here for?”
She looked up at him, blinked and cracked a small grin.“I don’t remember.”
So freaking adorable, in every possible way.
“You want to come to my house for a burrito?”
Nodding, she said, “I think I’d like that very much.”
“Pick your poison.”He gestured to the freezer case behind them.“Literally.”
Isla chuckled when she realized he was referring to the frozen burritos.“I’m partial to chicken.”
“As am I, and I’ve had this one before, so I can attest that it’s edible.”
“That’s a ringing endorsement.”
He was encouraged by her witty reply and hoped he could help alleviate some of her terrible stress.“Do the kids need anything?Is that why you stopped here?”
“No, I remember now.I wanted a Mountain Dew and a few minutes to myself, so I told Mrs.V I was running to the store.”
He grabbed four burritos from one case and two bottles of Mountain Dew from another and cradled them in his left arm.“Let’s go.”With his right hand on her back, he guided her toward the front of the store, where a young guy named Travis was working the register.He wore a tie-dyed Grateful Dead shirt and had shoulder-length blond dreadlocks.
“Hey, Julian, how goes the divorce wars?”
“Brutal as usual.How’re you doing?”
“All good in the hood.”
“My friend Isla is having some car trouble.Would it be okay if she left her car in the lot for a bit until we can get back for it?”
“Sure thing, no prob.What kind is it?”
“It’s a red Hyundai SUV,” she said.
“Got it.I’ll let everyone know.”
He rang up Julian’s items, and when he tapped his card to pay, Isla said, “I wanted to pay.”
“I’ve got it.All set.”
Travis handed him the paper bag with their purchases.“When you guys playing out again?”
“The Whisky next weekend.We’re pumped.”
“Oh, that’s cool.I’ll be there.”
“Bring your friends.”
