Page 13 of The Wayward Son

She glanced at him, then concentrated a little too hard on the coffee dripping into the pot. “Do you want a cup?”

“No caffeine.”

“Oh, right.”

He took a bag of prepared salad and a rotisserie chicken from the refrigerator and sat at the table with a fork and a paper plate. He poured some salad onto the plate, then forked off some pieces of chicken and put in on top of the mixed greens.

Jade brought a cup to the table and sat down. “That looks good.”

“Help yourself.”

“No. I’m full.”

“From your sandwich? Come on. At least have some chicken.”

“It does look really good.”

He pulled off a piece of white meat and held it out to her. She took it with a smile.

“I need to do laundry in the morning. Do you have anything to wash?”

“I’d actually like to wash the stuff I bought today. I like to wash new stuff before I wear it.”

“We can do it in the morning before I go to the gym.”

“The creepy laundry room in the basement?”

“Yeah. I’ll show you where it is. I need to get some quarters, though. Do you want to take a walk to the corner store? It’s just a couple of blocks.”

“Sure. Tonight?”

“Yeah. I’ll protect you.”

She laughed. “Thanks. I could use some junk food.”

“You should’ve bought some at the grocery store today.”

“I know. But I was trying to be good. You eat so healthy. I didn’t want you to think I was a junk food junky.”

“Are you?”

“Intermittently. I’ll just get some chips or something.”

“Get whatever you want. I’m very good at resisting temptation. At least when it comes to food. Beer and coffee are harder to say no to.”

“I guess I better stop offering you coffee, then.”

When Sawyer finished his chicken salad, they put on their coats and left the apartment. Early March in Missoula was cold. There was no snow, but it was expected for the following week. Jade tucked her arm through Sawyers and walked closed to him.

“Why are we walking instead of driving?”

“A brisk walk is good for you.”

“Hmm.” She glanced behind them. “Are those guys following us?”

“I highly doubt it. Why are you so paranoid?”

“I’m not. It’s a new town. I’m used to my few safe places I went to in Spokane.”

---