Page 12 of Surrender

Sylvia stops mid bacon bite with a look of shock on her face. “He didn’t try and kiss you, kiss you?”

“No. I don’t think I would have let him after only an hour.”

“Good Lord, you have more willpower than I do. I would have climbed that man like a tree.”

“Sylvia!” I shout, then laugh.

“I’m just being honest. So where did you leave it then? Will he call you? Message you?”

“We didn’t talk about it. I think he just needed someone to talk to, someone who didn’t want anything from him. I kind of felt the same. He wanted to know as much about me as I did about him. The conversation was mostly light. I don’t know. I had a good time.”

“I’m sure you did,” she laughs. “We need to get you a way to contact him, not through his people, but really contact him.”

“I don’t want to bother him. I don’t want to seem disingenuous either. I told him I wanted to keep things simple. That was simple. He did say perhaps we would see each other again.” I shrug.

“Girl, that’s straight up code for I want to see you again. We have to find out how to make that happen.”

“Oh my God, you aren’t going to let this go are you?”

“Ummm, do you know me? Not even a little.” She smirks. “Let your girl do some research while you eat. Don’t say no. You didn’t last night and look where it got you.”

I know where it got me. Beautiful conversation, his hand in mine, and a kiss for my hand.

Damn.

Chapter four

Ava

Sylvia is like a dog with a bone. She is not going to let this go.

She’s on a high-speed search for where they’re filming so we can casually walk by. I don’t want to do that. As brief as our time together was, I want to just enjoy the memory of it and not make it any more than it ended up being.

I finally convince my Thelma to let it go and if I see him again, I do. We decide instead to explore more of the town. I want to go antiquing today. Syl wants to use this day to casually explore, and if by chance we end up on a movie set, so be it. I let her think that’s a possibility. It’s easier than putting my foot down.

We walk up the same block, past the bar I was at last night, to find our first shop. It’s tiny, but packs a big punch. Every inch of the space is covered in jewels of the past. From old art, books, and clothing to artifacts and jewelry, it’s a peek back in time. My eyes always go to the jewelry first.

There are some amazing rings and earrings with the twist backs on them. There are several pocket watches. I remember my dad showing me my grandfather’s once. It was just as ornate as the ones laid on the pillows in this case. One in particular catches my eye. Its chain has a very similar look to the one Rafael wore around his neck.

As the heat of the day increases, we find the shade of an umbrella at a local barbecue place. The metal tables and chairs would be scorching under the late day sun. Syl and I share a brisket meal that we would have been eating for three days otherwise. I’m savoring yet another bite when a couple of white box trucks drive past us. They’re the same ones as yesterday.

“I saw that,” she says.

“What?”

“Checking out those trucks. Those are from catering.”

Sylvia keeps on eating like she didn’t just give me a bit of information. “How do you know that?” I ask.

“While you were getting coffee all over your hand and talking to your Italian, I was sleuthing like the amazing best friend I am.”

“Sleuthing, or being nosy?” I smile.

“Hey, a healthy dose of both never hurt anyone.”

I try to give her a bit of side-eye, but I can’t stay even remotely mad at her. “Tell me what else you know.”

She cleans her fork thoroughly from the homemade potato salad before she continues, “They are filming inside a house and on its lot, about three blocks over and two blocks up from here. Listen, I took one for the team and pretended to be out for a morning jog to gain this information. If you don’t use it, my knees will hurt you.”

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