“Do you have any plans?”
“Nope.” She studied the food on her fork before putting it in her mouth.
“I was going to drive to the city to see my buyer.”
“Your buyer?”
“To get supplies for the shop,” he said.
“Do you mean like gemstones and stuff?”
“Yeah. Because of the online shop someone set up, I have to get supplies more often now.”
“Sounds like a good problem to have and that brilliant person should get a special thank you later. You have to go to Sacramento every time?” she asked.
“No, I usually do it online, and he just ships it to me, but I thought it might be nice to go to the city today.”
Mia suppressed a grin as she studied her plate. “Yeah, you should go to the city then. It looks like it’s going to be a nice day for it.”
“Mia,” he replied, a visible expression of frustration sweeping across his features.
Her own brow raised in innocence. “What?”
“It’s just…I… Dammit, Mia.”
Mild laughter escaped her lips. “You’re not much of an angsty bad boy when you’re afraid to ask the woman you’re sleeping with a simple question.”
He pushed his chair close to hers, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. “Come to the city with me today?” It wasn’t so much of a question as much as it was a request fringed in hope.
Mia swept her fingers through his hair so it no longer stood on end. “See, that wasn’t so hard. It kinda feels like a date.”
Ross returned to his breakfast plate. “It’s not a date.” He mumbled the phrase which had become common between them, ever since they agreed at the beginning that what they were doing wasn’t dating. They needed the constant verbal reminder, especially when they did things which suspiciously looked like dating, such as a non-date at the local movie theater where they shared non-date popcorn.
Ross shrugged. “It’s just a work thing and I thought you might like to take a trip to the city.”
“Will you take me to lunch?”
“Yes, I will take you to not-a-date lunch.” He shook his head. “Although, I don’t know how you’re so concerned about lunch when you’re eating breakfast.”
“It’s the key to my success, Rosso. I like to think ahead and plan,” Mia responded, scooping more delicious hash onto her fork.
He studied her for a few moments. “And what you and I are doing, you’ve thought that through?”
Mia dropped her eyes. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have a reply, but she didn’t have one she wanted to give. The answer was simple. No maps. No calendar. Complete denial. Not everything in her life could be packed into a neat, organized box, her relationship with him in particular. She lifted her eyes to him once again and smiled, thinking of something better. “Oh, can we go to Sacramento Shutterstop? It’s supposed to be a really great camera shop and I’ve never been.”
“Yeah, whatever you want. Are you looking for anything in particular?”
“Remember, I told you about the boutique that wanted me to take some photos for them. The woman came into Pony Expresso last week and we got to talking. I decided I want to do it. Maybe I’ll pick up a real reflector at the camera store, be a real professional about it.” As much as Mia wished to downplay her excitement, she did feel a thrill when talking about it. She was so used to hiding that side of her.
Ross, though, felt safe and she wasn’t disappointed when he lifted her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “You be my navigator, and I’ll take you to any camera store you want. You’re a great photographer and she’ll love your work.”
Mia left the table with her heart full of happiness, but the feeling dissipated when she drove to her dad’s house after breakfast. Despite being on edge, she planned to take a quick shower, put on fresh clothes, and then wait for Ross to pick her up so they could drive to the city together.
She was blotting her wet hair with a towel when her father appeared in the doorway.
“So, you do still live here after all. I feel like I hardly ever see you anymore. What have you been up to these days?”
This wasn’t entirely correct. They’d seen each other in passing but, since their fight, there hadn’t been much communication between them except for the bare minimum. Their relationship had never been awkward on the surface before. It was as though neither wanted to risk reigniting the flames. The judge, standing in her doorway and questioning her, made Mia wary.
