“I can’t help but think people would move for you way quicker than they ever would for me.”
“Fer me?” I say.
“Hey. I thought we were friends. You start bagging on my accent, and I’m gonna have to let you go.”
“No, it’s cute. I haven’t heard that accent in a long time. Maybe since I came from back home.”
“Where’s home?” she asks.
“Indiana.”
“Wow, I never would’ve guessed.”
“I’m a long way from where I grew up.”
“By choice?”
“Oh yeah, there’s nothing back there for me.”
I can feel her piercing gaze on me, despite the dark sunglasses. I hold my breath as I wait for her to ask. She doesn’t, and we step into the line rapidly forming in the small shop.
“Okay, recommendations?”
“You can’t go wrong because everything is good, but since it’s your first time we have to have pickled carrots, and either the California Burrito which is Carne Asada, French fries, guacamole, and salsa or the Adobada Burrito which is marinated pork with red chile sauce and Guac. Those are two of the more popular.”
In the end, we both get a California Burrito with a Cola. We sit at a table, munching on addicting pickled carrots while they make our order fresh. The tiny snacks have just enough crunch and flavor to keep you shoving them in your mouth. She doesn’t hold back on eating, which I like. I can’t stand a girl who lives on salad alone and worries about every single calorie. I get being healthy, but you can go overboard, and this is California. So I’ve seen it all when it comes to diets.
“They should bottle these things and sell them in stores.” I wag the finely cut carrot, and she laughs.
“Right? They’re sitting on a gold mine.”
“How did you find this place?”
“When we first moved here, my ex-husband and I had a habit of finding all the must eat foodie spots. It was a habit we really enjoyed until his job got too demanding. Then my daughter and I made it one of our things to do.”
“Where do you live?”
“Now I have a place near downtown. You’ll forgive me if I don’t go into too much detail. We don’t know each other well enough for that.”
Her words are a sign. “What happened to you?”
“Excuse me.”
“Most people don’t think like that. I do because I need to. You, I wouldn’t expect it from.”
“The Devil hides behind guises. Once you understand that, your outlook on life changes.”
“And was your ex-husband the devil?”
“Hell found its way in his heart and made its home there when I wasn’t looking.” Her voice is soft, and her body is tense. “Listen, Freeze. I don’t know what exactly you’re looking for, but I can tell you this. I’m not able to give it to you. Every day is a battle. I’m rediscovering who I am, and that requires all my concentration.”
“Hey,” I reach out and over the hands in her lap with mine, “the only thing I want from you is your company. We can keep it light, casual, and string free. I’m not even sure how long I’ll be here, so this suits me fine. You show me the foodie spots. I’ll help you laugh, it’ll be good, yeah?”
She frowns. “What are you getting out of it?”
“Good food, a new friendship, and the lay of the land.”
She purses her lips.