Page 43 of My Sweetest Temptation

As Tabi entered, she glanced at me. “Hey, are you okay?”

I closed the door behind us. “Yeah, why?”

“You look like you were crying,” she said, her tone soft but her eyes filled with concern.

“Oh no, just something in my eye.”

“Okay, if you say so,” she replied, giving me a pointed look. “But seriously, get ready so we can go get something to eat.”

“Oh, I’m not really hungry, Tabi,” I admitted.

“That’s okay. Just come hang out with us.”

I glared at her playfully but couldn’t help but smile back. “Okay. Give me a minute.”

As I headed toward my room, I heard Tristan giggling, and my sadness felt a little lighter for a moment.

We drove about fifteen minutes to a local burger joint tucked away near Chinatown. After a bit of circling, we finally snagged a parking spot on a side street.

As we walked in, lively chatter and laughter hit us, and the mouthwatering scent of fries and burgers made my stomach growl. The hostess led us to a cozy booth by the window.

“Here are the menus,” she said, placing them on the table. “Your waiter will be with you shortly.”

“Thanks,” Tabi replied, returning her smile while Tristan scanned the menu.

Just a few minutes later, a waitress approached us, her bright smile lighting up her face. “Hey there! I’m Shay, and I’ll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“I’ll take chocolate milk, please!” Tristan declared cheerfully.

Tabi chuckled. “I’ll go with iced tea, thanks.”

Shay turned to me. “And you?”

“I’ll take a Coke.”

Shay nodded, jotting down our orders. “I’ll be right back with those.”

As she walked away, I turned to Tristan. “What do you normally get?”

“A cheeseburger and fries!” he replied, clearly in his happy place. “And Mommy always gets the chicken sandwich. Boring.” He scrunched up his nose and rolled his eyes for dramatic effect.

Tabi gasped. “Chicken is not boring.” Tabi placed a hand on her chest as if wounded.

Tristan giggled and leaned into her side. “I’m just kidding, Mommy.”

Tabi kissed his forehead. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Do you know what you want to order?” Shay asked when she returned, placing the drinks down and sliding straws toward us.

After Tabi rattled off her and Tristan’s orders, Tristan grabbed the crayons on the table and started coloring the printed kids’ menu.

“Okay, I am dying to know,” Tabi started, twisting the cap off Tristan’s chocolate milk.

“About what?” I asked, removing the paper from the straw and settling it in my drink.

One of Tabi’s perfectly arched brows shot up, and she tilted her head, giving me that “really” look. “You sent me a text last night, remember?” she drawled, stretching out the last word.

Oh, right. The text about my interaction with Nico.

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