Page 50 of Captivating Anika
Like bacon and curry. The bacon is unmistakable, and the curry must be from the potatoes, cauliflower, and peas she’s stirring around in the pan.
“Breakfast wrap. Aloo gobi, bacon, and scrambled eggs wrapped in a roti.”
“Wow. Ambitious for a Sunday morning.”
“Yeah, I was up early and needed something to do,” she admits.
That’s one more thing I’ve found out about her; for all her confidence and independence, she will show you vulnerability when you’ve won her trust.
“Not a good sleep then?”
She flashes me a tired little smile.
“Not really. I can’t seem to turn my thoughts off.”
I hum sympathetically. She’s understandably worried for her friend and as much as I’d like to, there’s nothing I can say to change that.
“Grab some coffee,” she suggests. “The scrambled eggs won’t take long.”
I turn to the French press coffeepot sitting on the counter and pour myself a cup.
“Top you up?”
“Please.”
The wraps are tasty. Different—curry for breakfast—but I’m definitely a fan. We discuss plans for the day while we eat, and Anika mentions she’d normally be doing work on the house. She’s just not in the mood today.
“What about coming with me to look in on Petunia and her brood? I should probably check in with Franco as well.”
Not to mention that I’m out of clean clothes. The morning I left the hospital, Sumo dropped off a bag with a few things I had in my locker at the firehouse, but I’m going to need more.
Technically, there’s no reason for me to stay at Anika’s, except I want to, and given what is going on in her life right now, I don’t think she should be left alone. Whether or not she agrees with that remains to be seen.
“Yeah, sure,” she responds, playing with the leftover food on her plate.
She didn’t even eat half of her breakfast.
“Okay, good. I’m running out of clothes.”
That gets no particular reaction, which I’m taking as a good sign.
When we get into the truck half an hour later, I’m the one getting behind the wheel. I was told not to drive for forty-eight hours, and even then, only if I can turn my head comfortably. Turning isn’t an issue, only bending down is, so I’m back in the driver’s seat.
“What about your new truck? Now that you’re able to drive again, were you hoping to pick it up at some point?”
“The dealership is not open today, unfortunately. It’s actually one of the things I was going to talk to Franco about. I think he’s coming into town tomorrow for a delivery and it wouldn’t take much for him to swing by and pick me up. He can drop me off in Farmington, I can get the Suburban, and drive back to your place.”
I back out of her driveway and hit the road. It’s not until we’re turning onto a back road I’m using to avoid going through town, she speaks again.
“Are you staying at my place for you or for me?”
I look over and catch her watching me, a blush darkening her cheeks.
“Would you rather I didn’t?” I return.
She gives a sharp shake of her head. “No. Yes! That’s not what I’m saying. I just don’t want you to feel you have to stay because of me.”
When I notice her nervously plucking at the seam of her blouse, I reach over to cover her hand with mine.