Page 15 of Deep Tide

She gazed into those sea-green eyes, annoyed that he seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. She wasn’t ashamed to spend an evening home alone, but not tonight. Tonight she needed lights. Noise. Anything to distract her from her thoughts, which were on some kind of torturous loop that she couldn’t turn off.

“One sec.”

She closed the door on him, even though that was rude, and hurried into her bedroom to slip on some sandals. She didn’t want to take time to change, but she cleaned up her makeup as best she could. Then she grabbed her purse and keys and stepped out.

He was leaning against the railing of her porch, which was little more than a landing with a row of flowerpots on it.

“All set?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

She locked up, and he gestured for her to precede him down the stairs.

The moment her feet hit the sidewalk she second-guessed her decision. The bar crowd was out already, and she was hit by a wave of body heat, accompanied by the usual smells—sweat, perfume, marijuana smoke, all mixed with the typical sidewalk aromas of French fries and funnel cakes.

Sean guided her out of the traffic flow, positioning himself between her and the throng. “So, what do you recommend?” His hand was light on her waist as he skillfully steered her around clumps of people. “Barbecue? Burgers? I think I saw a sign for chicken and waffles?”

“Fish tacos.”

He glanced at her. “Really? From a food truck?”

“Tiki Tacos is the best thing down there. Trust me.”

“Tiki’s it is.”

Reggae music emanated from a T-shirt shop as they strolled down the sidewalk. She glanced up at him.

“I’m surprised you’re still here,” she said.

“Why?”

“I figured you’d be back home by now.”

“Since I was coming down for the wedding, I thought I’d tack on some vacation time. I hear the fishing’s good here.”

“It is. Are you planning to do a charter?”

“Maybe.”

They reached the corner food court, which consisted of half a dozen food trucks arranged around picnic tables. She led him toward the silver Airstream beneath a strand of rainbow lights, and they stepped into line behind a pair of girls in cutoff shorts and bikini tops. One of the girl’s tops was see-through macrame, and Leyla was impressed that Sean didn’t even give her a second look.

“So, do these places have a beer license?” he asked.

“Some do, some don’t. Tiki’s sells beer and hard seltzer.”

“We’re in luck.”

They got to the window and ordered tacos and Coronas. Leyla took out her wallet, but Sean was quick to hand over his credit card.

“Thank you,” she said, grabbing the beers as Sean paid.

“Of course.”

She spotted a group of college boys getting up from a table and rushed over.

“Y’all done here?” she asked with a smile.

They relinquished the spot, and she set down the beers. Grabbing some napkins from the dispenser, she wiped down the table and tossed the trash into a nearby bin.

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