Page 54 of When I Had You

I turn my back, shielding her on the other side of me. I don’t think she catches on at first, but then she looks me up and down. “Okay, Everest, you’re blocking the view.”

“Yeah. There are spies among us.”

Her back stiffens, her posture now board straight. “Should I leave and meet you around the corner?”

Selfishly, I don’t want her to go, even if I get to see her in a few minutes. Protectively, I say, “I think it’s safer if we stick together.” I glance out the window of the pizzeria. “Hopefully, it won’t be long.”

It’s a bummer that the tone has changed, that we’re both on guard more, and all conversation has ceased to exist. If there are eyes, ears are listening in as well.

The pizza finally comes out the window, and we hustle away from the crowded pizzeria and down a block before we stop. She looks across the street and then at me. “Your place or mine?”

When our eyes connect again, I think we both know that question is loaded with more than dinner plans. But she doesn’t hesitate. “Yours.”

15

Marina

“Why are you in the city if you’re filming in Vancouver?” Cash asks before devouring the last of his fourth piece of pizza.

The man can eat. It’s actually impressive. Even if this is the most divine pizza that has ever touched my tongue, I fell out of competition after two large slices. Cash is still going, reaching for another.

“I had an audition this afternoon.”

“For a movie?”

It felt like home on that stage today, the feeling still soaring through my veins. “For a play on Broadway.”

“That’s a big deal.”

“That’s why I had candy.”

His eyes narrow on me from where he sits on the floor, the pizza box a makeshift plate. “I’m going to need more information to make that connection.”

I laugh. It might be the beer causing it or the company. Or both. “It’s like a reward to myself. A treat for doing my best.”

“Is that what your parents gave you growing up?” The slice is set back on the box. Are these signs of slowing down? I laugh again, this time to myself.

“I feel attacked.”

He grins under a muffled chuckle. “You’re not being attacked.” Resting his back against the base of the couch, he stretches his legs out on the floor. I tried my best to get him to watch a home DIY show, but he wasn’t having it for long, and somehow *clears throat* the channel ended up on car racing. Funny how that happens like never in my world. Until now.

I take another sip of beer, happy to change the topic before falling back on the couch. “It’s not like they bought me the store. It was one treat—”

“It was bribery.”

“And I’m okay with it.” With a shrug of my shoulders, I add, “It did the trick.”

He angles toward me, resting his arm on the couch cushion. “If I won a race, my mom would make me mac and cheese from the blue box. But that still tastes like victory to me.”

“What would she make if you lost?”

An endearing smile subtly crosses his mouth, and he replies, “Mac and cheese. From the blue box.”

To say I’m eating up every word he’s sharing is an understatement. I don’t think I could ever be full when it comes to learning these little things about Cash Warren. “I love that.” I face toward him, bending my legs at the knee and hugging a small pillow to my chest. “Your mom is very sweet. She spoke to me like we were old friends. It was nice.”

“I don’t think she’s met a stranger.”

“I can see how proud she is of you, and she adores Cullen.” A frame sits on the console under the TV mounted on the wall. The three of them, all smiles, stand in turquoise waters.

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