Page 46 of Heat Haze
Not that I’d trade that in for anything.
Buildings begin coming into view and I perk up at having somethingnewto look at. Peering out the window curiously, I watch as the town slowly gets bigger and bigger.
So many of the buildings are made with brick, but well maintained to the point of almost looking new. There’s an American flag waving off of every other store, sun beating down on concrete that’s probably gonna melt the bottom of my sneakers.
It’s actually really pretty in its own way, and I find myself growing even more excited when Alma pulls up to a parking spot. “Meet me back here at three, okay? Pa won’t like it if we’re late.”
Nodding, I go to drag Toro out of the truck before Alma stops me.
“Hold it,” she says while digging through her purse. She pulls something out—my wallet. God. I don’t even remember losing it. That all seems so far away now. “Take this. I fished it out of the ‘stash’ for you. Figured ya might want it.”
“Thank you, Alma.” My voice is quiet, the wallet returning to my pocket. She drives off, leaving Toro and I on the sidewalk. He’s holding on to me extra tight, going full clingy mode. Our eyes meet and he smiles weakly at me, and that’s when itactuallyhits me.
This is so out of his comfort zone.
But he’s doing it forme. Toro doesn’t want to go to town. He doesn’t want to be around strangers. He just wants to be with me in his bed away from the rest of the world. But still, we’re here, because he knew I wanted it that badly.
“Tor?” I squeeze his hand, fingers intertwining properly. “Thank you for taking me on this date. I’m really happy.”
One winning smile is all it takes for his body language to shift entirely. He still looks unsure, but he seems more okay with it all now. The smile he gives me is brighter than before, and I have to push myself up on my tippy toes to quickly give him a peck.
“I have the best boyfriend ever,” I say as we begin walking down the sidewalk. It’s not oven-hot outside today, so being out in the sun is actually enjoyable. For some reasonI thought people would be staring at us, but because this is real life of course nobody cares that we’re holding hands.
Normally I’d use my phone to figure out where to go, but that hasn’t been an option for a while now so we sort of just aimlessly wander around. It’s fun, looking into windows and being a normal couple. It makes me feel oddly satisfied, like something I didn’t even know was missing has been found.
“Nico…?” Toro’s quiet again, leaning in so I can hear him better.
I glance over at him. “Yeah?”
“Café,” he points towards a building. “Look.”
Squinting, I ignore the sun trying to blind me and make out the little green sign that says café. When I beam he beams too, kissing my cheek. “I would’ve missed that entirely. Good eye, Tor. Reading that book is proving to be good for you.”
“Like book.” He murmurs, letting me begin dragging him towards the building. He’s a little closer now, scanning every person who walks by. Toro is the cutest little guard dog ever. “Like when you… read.”
“I like reading to you, too.”
Toro stops, head turning back down to me. “Really?”
“Of course.” The expression he has is different. I feel special, and I hope I make him feel the same way. “Now can we go get some coffee before I kill myself?”
He flashes me a toothy smile. “...Dramatic.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The little bell near the door rings when we walk in, the woman behind the counter looking very tired. Her blonde hair is done up in a bun, tired blue eyes wiping away at a stain that probably won’t be coming out anytime soon.
“Welcome,” she says without looking up at us. Toro instinctively steps even closer, all but invading my personal space now. “What can I get you guys?”
I glance at the menu. It’s all simple stuff like lattes or americanos, which is fine since I was never one to order a big cup of sugar in the morning anyway. “Could I get an iced latte, please?”
“What size?”
“Med—”
“Large. Biggest one.” Toro cuts me off, speaking to the woman without looking at her. “...Please.”
The employee doesn’t care at all, just nodding. “And for yourself?”
