she thought, the more likely he’ll be there when I get back.
“Are you going to be subbing again pretty soon?” Toby asked.
“I don’t have anything lined up.”
“How does that work, anyway?”
“Well, I’m on the district’s list of substitutes. If they want me to work somewhere, they phone me in the morning and tell me about it. Then I can either accept the assignment or turn it down.”
“You like it?”
“Oh, it’s not so bad.”
“Everybody craps all over the subs.”
“It can be a little hairy sometimes. Usually, though, I get along okay.”
“I guess a lot of ’em take it easy on you because you’re so beautiful.”
She let out a quiet laugh. “Think so?”
“Yeah. Guys, anyway. I bet they do. I mean, they’d all want to get on your good side, you know?”
“I suppose that might happen sometimes.”
“Anybody ever…you know, put moves on you?”
“Oh, sometimes.”
“I bet. Oh, here comes the Nacho Casa. Looks like it’s still open.”
“I think it’s open twenty-four hours.”
“Yeah, maybe so. Sure you don’t mind if we stop?”
“No, that’s fine.”
Signal blinking, Toby eased over to the right-hand lane then made a turn into the Nacho Casa’s driveway. “How about if we go in?” he asked. “I sort of need to make a pit stop.”
“That’ll be okay.”
“Sorry,” he said, and swung into a parking space.
“No problem. I don’t suppose five or ten minutes is going to make much difference one way or another. For all I know, Duane might be gone for hours.”
He might be gone forever.
Dead.
I might never see him again.
The thoughts gave her a hot, squirmy feeling.
Don’t be an alarmist, she told herself. He’s probably fine.
Then where is he?
“Maybe I’ll wait for you in the car,” she told Toby.
He grimaced. “If you want to. But…I don’t know how safe it’d be. I mean, it’s getting pretty late and this isn’t the greatest neighborhood. Somebody comes along and sees you by yourself…”
“You come back and I’m missing,” she said.
“I’d hate to have that happen.”
“Me, too. Hey, maybe I’d end up in the same place as Duane.”
Toby laughed. “That’s a good one.”
“I’ll come in with you,” she said.
As she climbed out, the wind flung her skirt up. She shoved it down. Holding it against her thighs, she met Toby behind the car. “I hate skirts,” she said.
“You look nice in ’em, though.”
“Thanks.”
They walked across the parking lot to the door. Toby hurried ahead and opened it for her.
She entered the Nacho Casa and was glad to be out of the wind. Toby pulled the door shut.
The small restaurant was well lighted. Air conditioning chilled the air. All but two of its tables were empty. A gray-haired man sat alone at a corner table, his eyes checking out Sherry as he bit into a burrito. At another table, a teenaged couple sat across from each other. The way the guy was staring at his girlfriend, Sherry figured he must be madly in love.
Do I ever look at Duane that way?
She was pretty sure she didn’t.
When was the last time I looked at anybody that way?
It had been a very long time.
“You want to go ahead and have something, don’t you?” Toby asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure?”
She remembered the bowl of popcorn she’d eaten on the couch with Duane. Though she’d devoured a lot of it, she now had a vague, empty feeling in her stomach. It probably had to do with missing Duane, not with hunger.
But maybe a snack would help.
“I guess I could use something,” she said.
Standing beside Toby, she tilted back her head and studied the elaborate display of menu items above the counter area.
“Can I help you?” asked the teenaged girl behind the cash register.
They never give you a chance to look at the menu.
“Just a second,” she said.
As she frowned at the menu and tried to make up her mind, she realized Toby was staring at her.
Thinks I’m beautiful.
Sure is checking me out.
Feeling herself start to blush, she smiled at him and said, “I guess I’ve made up my mind.”
Side by side, they stepped up to the counter.
“Have you decided?” the girl asked.
“You first,” Toby said to Sherry.
“Okay. I’ll have one hard-shell shredded beef taco and a small Pepsi.”
“Give me a medium Pepsi,” Toby said, “and two of those tacos like she’s getting.”
“Will that be for here or to go?” the girl asked.
Toby looked at Sherry.
“Either way,” she said. “They might be messy, though. Maybe we’d better eat them here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure.”
“Great.” Looking very pleased by her decision, he said, “For here.”