Until the World Stops - L.A. Witt Page 0,47

I sipped my drink. “We thought we’d change things up.”

“I didn’t even know they were open.”

“They are, for curbside. We just picked it up, then went and parked somewhere and ate it in the car.”

“That…” She blinked. “That actually sounds kind of adorably romantic, and I’m furious that you didn’t Instagram a cute couple selfie.”

I could feel myself blush as I laughed. “Come on, it wasn’t—”

“Furious, MA1.” She wagged a finger at me. “Furious.”

Still laughing, I cut off a bite of chicken parmesan. “Next time I’ll post a picture. Promise.”

“And bring me breadsticks the next day.”

I held one up. “I have two. You want one?”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh my God. Gimme.” She made grabby hands, and I gave her one of the breadsticks. “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.” Sitting back, she pulled her mask down and took a bite. “Yesss. That’s what I needed today.”

I chuckled and ate some of the chicken parm. The taste gave me a little shiver; the breadsticks may have been what she needed today, but all of this had been exactly what I’d needed last night. Almost all of what I’d needed.

“So you guys can swing Olive Garden even when he’s not working?”

“Eh.” I shrugged. “Neither of us was drinking, and we didn’t exactly order steak and lobster.”

“Not that lobster’s that expensive around here, but okay, point taken.” She nibbled the breadstick.

We ate in silence for a few minutes while everything we’d talked about rattled around in my head along with everything else that kept me awake at night. Because there was such a shortage of that these days.

After a while, Colby said, “So you guys really are doing okay with all this? Just, you know, in general?”

I considered it, and I nodded. “We’re not doing too bad, all things considered. We’re getting along and just kind of getting through it one day at a time. And the money… I mean, to be honest …” I moistened my lips. “In fact, to tell you the truth, I’m glad he’s not working right now.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

“Because when he’s home getting stir crazy, at least I know he’s safe.”

Colby blinked. Then she smiled. “Aww, listen to you, being all protective of your boo.”

I rolled my eyes as heat rushed into my cheeks. “Shut up.”

She cackled. “I’m just saying!”

“Uh-huh.” I waved her away, but I had to admit—to myself, not out loud—that she had a point. And since when was I this fiercely protective of Tristan?

Since he became my only human contact outside of work, that’s when. That’s all it is.

Right?

We let the subject go, thank God. MA2 leaned back and put her boots up on the desk, and I kept eating my lunch.

Eating my lunch, and thinking about the last time I’d tasted this particular set of flavors.

Last night, the pasta and breadsticks had been a taste of normal.

Today, it was a taste of last night. It took me right back to that parking lot, and to the two of us shooting the shit, and to me wishing I could come up with an excuse to stay out just a little bit longer. Was that how it was going to be after this? Just tasting pasta or smelling breadsticks was going to make me think about Tristan? And think about him like this? Because I’d never imagined myself getting nostalgic and wanting to go back to some time the two of us had spent together, even if was just last night.

Clearly we needed to get out more. Stave off the cabin fever, enjoy some food someone else had cooked, and…

And yes, spend some time with Tristan. Because he was the only person I could spend time with right now. That was all.

My phone vibrated, and after I’d taken a bite of chicken parmesan, I checked the screen.

I had a text from Tristan: Was thinking of grilling tonight. Burgers & corn sound good?

Grilling out? Ooh, hell yeah. A burger that didn’t come from a paper wrapper? Sign me the fuck up. I wrote back, Sure. Should I pick anything up on my way home?

He replied a minute later, Nah. I’ll grab everything.

Perfect. See you when I get home.

I put my phone aside and continued eating.

This felt weirdly domestic and comfortable. We’d been husbands on paper and roommates in practice, but lately, it felt more like this. Like if I squinted hard enough, we were a real couple going through the motions of figuring out dinner and grocery shopping and all the normal, mundane things couples