Page 77 of Zane

“Not unless you do.”

She hesitated a moment, but then shook her head. “We can go.”

Shifting around to face Lee, Zane said, “We’re headed out.”

“You’re leaving already?” his mom asked, her brow furrowed.

“Yes. I’m tired and have a bit of a headache.”

His mom moved closer and gave him a hug. “Well, go get some rest.”

“We’ll be home shortly,” Lee said. “We’re not doing a barbecue for lunch since we had everyone over last night. Just leftovers.”

“Sounds good. See you at home.”

As he and Kelsey made their way to the doors of the church, he nodded at the people who greeted him, but he didn’t stop to talk to anyone.

“I’ll go get the car,” Kelsey said.

“You don’t have to do that,” Zane told her. “I’ll walk with you if you don’t mind a slower pace.”

“No. That’s fine.”

Neither of them spoke as they walked to where Kelsey had parked earlier. Zane wondered what Kelsey was thinking. She was hard to read.

Without remembering the dynamics of their relationship, Zane had no idea if she had been a person to share her thoughts readily. Or had they been close enough that he could read her moods easily?

Her silence right then didn’t seem to indicate that she was upset or angry. More like she was keeping her thoughts and emotions under tight wrap. And if that was the case, he couldn’t exactly blame her.

“Has it been difficult?” Kelsey asked as they left the church parking lot.

Zane looked at her, wondering if she thought his brain injury had left him with the ability to read minds. There was so much that question could apply to in his life at the moment. “Has what been difficult?”

Kelsey kept her gaze forward, gripping the steering wheel with both hands. “Seeing Sarah again. With her husband.”

The question didn’t surprise Zane, but he wasn’t sure how to answer it. The emotions he had surrounding Sarah were so complex and messy.

“Are you super hungry?”

“What?” She glanced at him, a question in her blue-green eyes. “Not really.”

“Pull in up here for a second,” Zane said, motioning to the diner that was just ahead. As she parked, he angled himself to reach his wallet in his back pocket. He pulled out his debit card and handed it to her. “Would you mind going in and ordering a frozen lemonade and a large fries for me? And get whateveryou want as well. On me. I would recommend the lemonade and fries.”

She stared at the card, then reached out and took it from him. “Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Zane watched as she walked to the entrance of the diner and disappeared inside. While he waited for her to come back, he sent a text to Lee.

Kelsey and I won’t be around for lunch. See you a bit later.

Lee sent back a thumbs up without requiring any further information, though Zane was sure that Rori was pestering him with questions. Zane appreciated that about Lee. Though he might ask questions later, right in the moment, he didn’t demand to know what was going on.

A few minutes later, Kelsey reappeared with a drink tray in one hand and a large paper bag in the other. He leaned across the console to open her door, and she bent over to hand him the drink tray and the bag. After she’d settled back in her seat, she held out the debit card.

“Do you mind if we go to the park?”

“Uh. Sure.” She pulled out of the parking spot and turned in the direction of the park. “What part of the park did you want to go?”

“Anywhere with an available picnic table in the shade.”

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