She bustles over to our table. Only then does she peel her eyes off Titus and sees the bump on my head. “What happened to you?”
“Hit and run.” I grimace and hold up my casted arm.
She gasps. “Oh no! That’s horrible.” Her eyes dart to Titus again with a question in them.
“This is Titus, my son-in-law’s father. Thank goddess he was here when it happened. He’s taking good care of me.”
Rebecca beams at him. “That’s great. I’m glad he was here, too.”
We order burgers. Titus orders mine with a gluten-free bun-I’m so touched he remembered-and fries. When they come, Titus squirts a huge pile of ketchup on my plate first, then his own.
They are simple, tiny gestures, but sweet. I’m not used to having anyone try to take care of me. Part of me hates it-I don’t want to depend on anyone. I got hurt in my first marriage-badly-and I don’t ever want to be in that position again.
But I can’t deny the appeal.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for a burger and fries kind of girl,” Titus says, stuffing several fries in his mouth at once.
“No?” I laugh. I guess when we hung out before, we didn’t do much eating out. I seem to recall we just ordered in a lot of pizzas and Chinese food. “Yes, I like meat.”
Titus growls at my smirk.
I stare at his plate, stunned to see he’s already eaten his first burger. I take a bite of my french fry. “So I thought you worked a security job, back in Wolf Ridge.”
“That’s right. I work night shifts at the brewery there.”
“So what assignment brings a security guard to Taos?”
He considers me, then shakes his head. “I can’t discuss it.”
I persist because it doesn’t make much sense. “Brewery business?”
“I’m following up on some criminal activity.”
“What kind?”
“What part of I can’t discuss it did you not get?”
I hold up my hands. “Okay, okay. Touchy. Secret brewery business, then.”
He rolls his eyes.
I wipe my lips with my napkin. “Do you think you could drive me out to my RV?”
He raises a brow. “Excuse me?”
“Because I don’t have the bus. Could you give me a ride to my place?”
He blinks at me for a few beats. “I rented that goddamn place so you’d stay put and rest. Are you seriously telling me your wanderlust has already kicked in? You can’t stay still for more than half a day?”
I sense so much judgment in his words, and I hate to admit how much it hurts. I look down at my food, suddenly not hungry.
“Seriously, what’s the rush?”
I snap my head back up. “I don’t get paid to lie around on your sofa, Titus. If I’m not making art or selling it, I don’t eat. That’s the reality of my situation.”
He shakes his head. “And who picked that situation?”
I throw down my napkin and scoot my chair back. “I didn’t ask for your help, Titus. I don’t need it. I also didn’t ask for your judgment of me or my lifestyle. Don’t worry about giving me a ride, I can find my own way home.” I dig in my purse for some cash and drop enough to cover both our meals on the table. I’m not about to let Titus do anything more for me.
“Now wait up.” He rises, too. “I’ll drive you. Just hold your horses.”
I hold up my hand. “No, really, Titus. I’m good. Thanks for everything.” I lean over to kiss his cheek to prove I’m not pissed-which I am. I just don’t want to be. I don’t want to care what this giant, manly monster of a man thinks of me.
I don’t want to fit into his rigid mold of how things should be. Or how they shouldn’t.
Yes, I’m unique. I’ve always been different. Even as a child, the other kids thought I was weird. I suppose that’s why I married so young. I was just so eager to be with someone I thought wanted and accepted me.
But my first marriage couldn’t have been more painful.
I walk out into the unfiltered sunshine of high-altitude living. Taos isn’t the kind of place you can grab an Uber, but if I walk around the plaza, I’ll eventually bump into someone I know who I can ask for a ride out to my RV.
Of course, then I’ll be stuck out there with no way of getting back into town if I need something. Maybe I didn’t think this through quite carefully enough when I made my request.
Maybe Titus was right.
Maybe I was running away again. From him.
From the vulnerability he evokes in me. Just look at how easy it was for him to hurt me and I wasn’t even giving over my heart!
No, I made the right choice. Distance is definitely the best option.
In desperate need of a mood lifter, I slip into Adele’s chocolate shop. The rich scent of cocoa rolls over me as the tall proprietress straightens from behind the counter.
“Hey, Sunny,” she calls out, her wide mouth breaking into a smile until she gets a good look at my banged up face. “Oh my God, what happened?”
“Car accident. Hit and run. I could really use a pick me up.” It’s true, although it’s not because of the car accident.
“Oh, I have the perfect thing for you, my friend. Taste this.” She slides a plate with three truffles across the counter. “My latest creation. Apricot sea salt truffle.”
I pop the little morsel in my mouth and groan. “Yes. This was exactly what I needed.” I close my eyes and savor the explosion of flavor in my mouth. “Exquisite. You truly have a gift, Adele.”
“Why does it look like your boyfriend is standing guard outside?”
“My boy-” I start to turn, but stop myself. “Oh. Titus is outside?”