“Without the drama.It was actually kind of boring when I was there.”
“Except for the reality TV show.”
He chuckled.“My fifteen minutes of fame.”
“It must’ve been dreadful.At that age, the last thing most people want is that kind of attention.”
“It was pretty awful.My younger siblings ate it up.Those of us who were old enough to know better hated every minute of it.My dad said it would be great for business, and it was, but at what cost, you know?”
Isla grimaced.
“I’m not sure how you’ve managed to get me talking about things I never talk about with anyone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.It’s fine.You’re easy to talk to.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but don’t feel like you have to talk about painful stuff if you don’t want to.”
“It was a long time ago now.Doesn’t hurt the way it used to.”After a pause, he said, “You want to hear something really crazy?”
“Um, yeah?”Could he tell she was hanging on every word he said like an obsessed teenager?She hoped not.
“My mom’s house in the Palisades burned in the fire.”
“Oh no.That’s terrible.”
“It was a nightmare.We didn’t know for sure she got out for almost a full day.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“With the PCH being the only way out of there, it was a madhouse and terrifying for people trying to evacuate.Anyway, she’s rebuilding out there and staying with my sister Kaidan in town during the week.Kaidan thinks she and my dad are back together.”
Isla gasped.“What?”
“That’s what we said, too.”
“You guys must’ve been shocked to hear that.”
“Shocked and a little outraged.”He put the burritos on navy blue plates and served them with salsa on the side.“Our gourmet dinner is served.”
“It smells delicious.Thank you.”
“Nothing but the best for you.”
He made her feel lighthearted and giddy inside, which was tinged with guilt whenever she thought of Gabriel.So she tried not to think of him and instead enjoy the interlude away from reality for as long as she could.
They ate in companionable silence for several minutes.The burrito was surprisingly tasty and was the first thing she’d eaten all day that didn’t get stuck on the huge lump that’d settled in her throat the night before.
She took a napkin from the pile he’d put on the counter and dabbed at her lips before taking another sip of vodka, which was making her feel warm and tingly inside.“I’m not sure what I’m doing here one day after I learned that my ex-husband—or actual husband or whatever he is—is going to die.Soon.”
“You’re living your life, which is the only thing you can do.”
“I know that’s what I have to do, but this, with you…”
He reached across the counter to put his hand on top of hers, electrifying her with his touch.“We’re two people eating grocery store burritos and talking about life.No harm in that.”
Maybe it was the vodka making her brave.“Is that all it is?Because it feels like more than that.You dumped me onto your brother because you were attracted to me.”
