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“Have a good evening,” I said before I closed his office door. Pulling out my phone, I pulled up Stella’s name and hit the phone icon to call her. It rang twice before she answered.

“Hello?”

“Are we still on for that dinner you promised me earlier?” I answered in reply.

“Um...yeah, of course.” She giggled, and I felt it in my bones. “It got late, and I thought maybe you changed your mind.”

“That would never happen. I’m a man of my word. If I say I’m going to do something, I will do my damnedest to do it. Do you by any chance know where Station Nineteen is?”

“I don’t, but I don’t know where most stuff is here. I have to use my GPS wherever I go. Let me see.” Her voice was muffled as she continued to speak. “It says it should only be about thirty minutes from where I am, but I’m not sure if it’s taking traffic into account.”

“If it would be easier, I can get an Uber and meet you someplace to eat?”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Okay, do you like Mexican?”

“Love it. Send me the address, and I’ll meet you there.”

A moment later, a text came in with the address. Looking forward to seeing Stella, I went into the bathroom and slicked my hair back, and sprayed myself with a touch of cologne as I waited for my Uber to arrive.

* * *

Stella walkedinto the restaurant wearing the same clothes I’d seen her in earlier today. She made a simple pair of cutoff shorts and a t-shirt look downright exotic with the way she filled them out.

The moment she saw me, a bright smile lit up her face, and her steps quickened until she stopped right beside me. Leaning down, she kissed my cheek before moving to sit across from me. “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”

“Not long,” I held up my drink that I’d only taken a few sips of.

Clasping her hands together under her chin, her assessing gaze took me in. I was in a pair of cargo shorts and a gray t-shirt. Nothing much, but I hadn’t planned on going out while I was here. “I still can’t believe you’re here. The whole day has seemed surreal. I think I’ve checked my security cameras at least a hundred times, trying to see if I can see any fire.”

“And?” The one thing that killed me was I wasn’t given any updates on the fire. I should have asked Donnie before I left, but my only thought had been meeting up with the woman who sat across from me.

“Nothing so far.” She sighed and looked sad. “I don’t want my house to burn down. Not that anyone does, but it felt so monumental getting there and to have it taken away from me after a few months would be a difficult pill to swallow.”

“At least you had somewhere to go.” Although I couldn’t imagine knowing there might be a chance my house would be gone when I went back to it. “You’re at Penelope’s house, right?”

“I am. She has a condo that she’s never at since she’s always on the road. I’m lucky I have someplace to go because I know there are lots of people who are displaced right now.” Her eyes became glassy as she spoke. “On top of all the stress, and then not having any place to go. I feel for them.” A tear escaped and slid down her cheek before she brushed it away. “I could use a drink.”

I spotted our waiter and signaled to him. After dropping off an order, he came over, devouring Stella with his eyes. “What can I get you, hermosa dama?”

“I’ll have a margarita and…” she looked to me, “are you ready to order?”

“Go ahead, and I’ll figure it out while you order.”

Stella murmured something about a burrito, and our waiter went on to tell her all about his favorite dishes at the restaurant. With each word he spoke, I became angrier. What gave him the assumption she wasn’t with me?

Most likely feeling my eyes burning into him, he turned his attention to me. “And what would you like?”

“Well, first, I’d like you to stop eye-fucking my girl here, and second I’ll have three of the tacos de fuego.”

“I...I meant no…” he stuttered.

“I think you did, so how about you place our orders, and you keep your eyes to yourself for the rest of the night,” I gritted out.

“Of course, señor.” He walked backward a few steps before turning on his heel and scurrying away.