Page 23 of Saving Bonnie

The white-knuckle grip only confirms the suspicion. My heart goes out to him. We had a lot to deal with when I was a kid, but there was always food on the table. I’m glad I added a little more, despite still having some of the gum in the cabinet. “Hey, would you like a taco?”

He hesitates. Pride, embarrassment, or goodness knows what else flashes across his face.

“Bean and chorizo?” Over the past few months I’ve learned it’s his favorite.

He nods.

“Okay.” I point to the nearest stool. “Grab a seat and I’ll get it for you.”

He climbs onto the stood. “Um, I have to go check on my grandpa.”

“All right.” I smile with reassurance. “I won’t be long.” Going into the kitchen, I turn to Manny. “Can you get me two bean and chorizo on flour, to go.” Better to add an extra because he’s probably running home to split the taco.

“Got it.” He nods, closing a Styrofoam container.

“Noah’s still out?”

“Yeah,” he tosses over his shoulder as he works the grill. “And we got a couple more deliveries waiting.”

I check the tags on the thermal bags. One goes to Bridge I, and the other is an office building. “Hmmm.” I back up, poking my head through the door. “Junior, you interested in making a couple of bucks while Manny gets your taco?”

The kid’s eyes grow huge. “Heck yeah.”

I bring out the delivery. “Can you deliver an order at Bridge I?”

“Sure.” He practically launches himself off the stool.

“These are plates,” I warn. “So you can’t toss the bag around.”

“Okay.” He nods as I hand him the bag.

“Go across the plaza and along the sidewalk to the offices and ask for Mr. Valdez.” I show him the name on the ticket. “When you deliver, you pull the plates by the handles on the plastic bag they’re in and keep them steady.”

“I won’t spill,” he assures me before taking the bag and heading for the door.

The Bridge offices are four blocks away, and the sidewalk skirts the incoming lanes from Mexico. Still, a reminder couldn’t hurt. “Be careful with traffic.”

If only I had the money…I cut off the thought. I need to call Saul again. Likely this thing with us was all a mistake. He didn’t notice what bank account he was using when he paid off the card. When he left, he’d said the typical “I’ll always be here for you” crap. Except when it comes to returning a phone call. I take a deep breath. At this point, he’s undeniably the worst mistake of my life.

I head to the sink to wash my hands so I can pitch in. I’m two steps from the storage room when Rick, Nuevo Laredo’s hunkiest delivery guy, steps out, nearly crashing into me. “Oh good-goodness,” I stammer. Here he is, less than a foot away, his handsome face looking down at me like a man who’s just caught the biggest fish of his life…

Where’s the racing pulse? Where’s the excitement at seeing him? Where’s the toe-curling moment I expected the next time I saw him? Disappointment coats my insides. I inadvertently spent the last of my money on a mani-pedi and waxing so I could ask this guy on a date. Now, I’d completely forgotten he was going to be by today.

“Hi, Bonnie.” Rick graces me with his practiced smile. He leans a forearm against the doorframe, shifting to a relaxed stance that’s probably gotten him laid more than once.

Last week, I fully planned to be the next one on that list. Now I’m wanting to put some room between us without being too conspicuous.

“Hey, Rick.”

It’s what happens when your little world is confined to the walls of a café. Once upon a time, I used to go shopping for groceries. I hit the farmer’s market when it was first organized. I also went into Nuevo Laredo for some of our goods. All of that is impossible now, with Grandma gone and Mom taking an early retirement. Now I order delivery on what we need.

“I was just dropping off your order.” He motions toward the room behind him. “Manny said Sergio’s gone, so I took care of putting everything awayfor you,” he says, handing me a clipboard.

“Sorry you had to go to the trouble. We’ve been a little busy.”

According to Sergio, he had to do the stocking because Rick would complain about having to come in. He doesn’t look like he’s upset at all. Is he acting differently because I’m a female? Was Sergio a jerk to him…or lying to me? How much of what I handed off for Sergio to put away went home with him? And what else did he lie about?

“No trouble at all, Bonnie.” The thousand-watt smile makes an appearance. “It’s a small order this time.”

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