Grady must have been watching, because he appeared a moment later to pick up their menus and left again just as quickly once they'd ordered.
Reaves reached across the table and rested his hand on top of hers. She looked up to finally meet his gaze.
"Sorry," she murmured. "I'm fine."
"I never did trust that word. I mean, come on. It's like code, isn't it?"
She gave him a puzzled look, but he pushed on.
"I mean, when someone's good, they say they're good. If they're happy, they say they're happy. So, what does fine really mean?" He smiled, hoping he wasn't overdoing it.
She shrugged. "I think it kind of means not bad."
He nodded and withdrew his hand. If she didn't want to share, that had to be her call. He took a sip of his soda and watched her worry at her bottom lip.
When he couldn't take the silence any longer, he rested his elbows on the table. "You can tell me it's none of my business if you like. But you've been really quiet since we came out of there, and…" He shook his head. "You're scaring me, Alara."
Her gaze snapped up to meet his. "I'm sorry, Reaves. I don't mean to. I…" She closed her eyes for a moment before meeting his gaze again. "I'm scared."
Every question in his mind went quiet, and he reached for her hand again before he even realized that he'd done it. "Why? What's—"
At that moment, the server arrived with their steak wraps. "Here you go, guys. Enjoy."
As soon as he'd gone, Reaves squeezed her hand, hoping that she'd continue.
"I…"
He held his breath.
But when she finally spoke, she said, "I feel like I should get home to Zia."
He was about to argue—tell her that she could take an hour for herself, that she needed it, that she could tell him what Ambrose had said, tell him what she was afraid of, and he'd be there for her to lean on. But then it hit him. She didn't mean she was scared of leaving Zia alone for an hour. She meant that she was scared, and she wanted her daughter.
That changed things entirely.
"I'll tell you what, then. Should we get these to go and head back there?"
She looked at their plates. "But he just brought them and…"
"It's not a problem. Not a problem at all." Reaves was already waving Grady over. "Listen, bud, we just had a change of plan. Can we get these to go?"
"Sure thing." He took their plates, beckoned for the server to bring their drinks, and reappeared in just a few moments with three takeout boxes and two to-go cups.
Reaves took his wallet out, but Grady shook his head. "You guys look like you're in a hurry. I'll get it. We can settle up another time."
"Thanks, Grady. I appreciate it."
"Don't mention it."
Alara reached for the boxes, looking puzzled that there were three of them.
Grady smiled. "I slipped a little treat in there for Zia. I'll get Hannah to give you a call, if that's all right."
"Thanks, Grady."
Once they were back in his Land Cruiser, she fastened her seatbelt before looking up at him. "I'm really sorry about this, Reaves."
"Don't be. It was dumb of me to think you'd want to go for lunch."
