Page 20 of Gone for You

He grabs a container and starts filling it. I’m not sure how well any of this will heat up but there’s a lot of food that I hate to see go to waste so I help.

I look for the check but don’t see it anywhere. “I got it,” he says.

“No! I was the one who ordered enough food for the entire restaurant.”

“And?”

“It’s not fair for you to pay for everything.”

“Don’t argue. I invited you here and these leftovers are going to bless someone after we leave here just like your presence has blessed me. Now, you ready? Need to use the restroom or anything before we go?”

“Yeah, I do. I had a lot of coffee.”

He slides a wad of cash onto the table and we both make a pit stop at the bathroom. As soon as I walk out, he helps me into my coat, places his hand on my lower back, and leads me outside. To where, I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I have a feeling I’d follow him wherever he leads.

But still… lifting my phone, I snap a picture of him and send it to Lily with simply,He’s cute but then again, you’d kill me yourself if I wasn’t careful.

Lily:You need to lay off the crime documentaries.

Lily:Also, you’re right. He’s super cute.

Lily:Also, also. Thank you for not being the stupid girl in the horror movies.

I grin at my phone before sliding it into my pocket and glance over at Ethan who’s leaning against his door, hand covering his mouth.

“Need a better picture in case I end up being a psychopath?”

Without hesitating, I look at my picture then up at him. “Nah, it’s good enough.”

“Alright then,” he says, completely amused.

Chapter 5

Ethan

I wantto reach across the console and hold her hand while I drive but I hold back, instead settling for the way she rests her arm against mine. I had to practice some pretty heavy restraint to not kiss her at the diner and now that it’s just the two of us in the small confines of the cab of my pickup, it’s even harder.

“Where are we going?” she asks softly.

“I want you to meet someone.”

“Who?”

“Someone important to me,” I tell her and know she won’t be satisfied with my vague answer.

“Your dad?”

“No. Not my dad.” I wouldn’t do that yet. Not because of her, but my dad is like an overbearing mom when it comes to me bringing women home. He’d jump to every conclusion he could think up.

“Hmm. Well, whoever it is, thank you for wanting me to meet them.”

“You’re welcome,” I croak out. She sings along to the slow country song that’s filtering through the speakers and I almost jump out of my skin when I feel the back of one of her fingers brush against my hand. The touch is so light I almost think I imagined it but when my eyes dart to hers, I see her cheeks tinge with pink and a small smile grace her plump lips as she stares straight ahead. Man, this woman turns me inside out. A tiny bit of skin contact and I can barely think.

Luckily, it doesn’t take long to get where we’re going. She looks around, a bit confused. Rightfully so.

“Where are we?”

“What does it look like?”

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