could listen to you talk all day.” She grins, pours him a drink, then points to the call light. “Don’t hesitate to flag me down if you need anything else.”
She stares at him two seconds too long before finally walking on and helping the passengers behind us.
I can’t contain the scoff that escapes my lips when I gaze out the window.
“Something funny?” Callum asks.
I turn to him. “Just amused at how obvious she was being with you.”
“Glad my discomfort is funny to you.”
His scowl lingers on me for one long second. Then it falls back to his phone.
That lethal look. That same dismissive glare he flashed me during the farmer’s market when I dared to smile and wave at him. When I mistakenly thought we could be decent to each other for just one moment.
I bite down so hard, my jaw aches. “You’re one to talk.”
He squints at me.
“Don’t talk to me about discomfort.” I steady my voice so I don’t cause a scene. “Your entire existence has made me uncomfortable. Ever since I met you, life has been a million times more unpleasant for me and my mom. Do you have any idea the kind of uncertainty you’ve sown into our jobs by taking over our spot? That thought is more than just uncomfortable.”
When I pause to take a breath, I feel like I’ve finished the hill sprint workout at spin class.
“There you are every single day, parking right next to us, reminding us that in a few weeks we could lose it all. You wouldn’t even listen when I tried to explain everything to you the day we met. I was just trying to be nice . . . Some trucks were awful to us when we started out, snapping at us because we didn’t know the rules. Finally, someone clued us in, and things were so much better. All I wanted to do was help you, like someone helped me.”
My heart is racing and I’m practically panting as I unload these words, these words I’ve been aching to say to him for weeks, but I’ve never had the nerve—until now. Now that we’re trapped together in a metal tube with no clear escape, I may as well lay it all out.
“Remember the farmer’s market? I was just trying to be nice again, and you glared at me like I was the vilest thing you had ever laid eyes on. You walked by me like I was nothing. Any idea how uncomfortable that made me feel? And how you refused to take that money I offered you at the vet’s office and when you jumped my car? God, you were so condescending about it. I guess hard-ass Callum has no time to be even the tiniest bit decent to his competitors.”
I stop before my voice has the chance to break. Why did I ever think he could be anything other than brash and cruel? That’s all he’s ever shown me.
Only one hour into this flight, and already our attempt at pleasantry is an epic fail. I death-glare at a cloud outside my window while quietly deep breathing my way to something resembling calm.
“I’m sorry, Nikki.”
His quietly spoken words are a shock to the body. Good thing I’m already sitting, because if I had been standing, I would have fainted.
Pushing up his sleeves, he shrugs. “I didn’t know you were trying to be nice. At the farmer’s market, I mean.”
“I was smiling and waving at you. Jesus, what’s your version of nice?”
He sighs and fixates on the headrest in front of him. Then he whips his phone out and spends several seconds swiping before leaning over to show me. In an instant, warmth coats my arm closest to him. That’s some powerful body heat he possesses if I can feel it despite the inches of space between us. I swallow to collect myself and look at the screen.
It’s the selfie I took at the farmer’s market with Penelope, the adorably enthusiastic fan of our food truck. Underneath our smiling faces is a caption: Just met the amazing Nikki from @Tivas and OMG what an absolute doll! Can’t wait to see her and her mom smash the competition at the #MauiFoodFestival! You’re going down, @HungryChaps! Muahaha!!
A devil smiley face ends the caption.
Callum rubs his forehead with his free hand. “I saw that right before I spotted you at the market.” He runs a thumb across his cheek and chin, which are covered in thick golden stubble. “I thought you had