Bree’s phone pinged, and she pulled it out of her pocket. “Oh, sweet boy,” she sighed. “Look.” She held the phone up so Red could see the photo her sister had texted. “This is Cochran,” she said proudly. In the photo, he was asleep next to the Christmas tree. His cheeks were pink, like so many of the skaters they saw this afternoon.
Was she making a mistake, being away for Christmas? Maybe being around her family would lighten her spirits. If anyone could help her forget what was bothering her, it was Cochran.
Red pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant she and Jace had gone to the only other time she was in Sun Valley.
“I don’t get down here often, but it’s one of my favorite spots,” he said, noticing the expression on her face. “Asian okay, or would you prefer something else?”
“No, this is great.” Maybe Jace’s friends wouldn’t recognize her.
Red raised an eyebrow.
“No, really. I love Asian food.”
“Uh huh,” he answered, grinning back at her. “You’re full of mystery today, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been here before. That’s all. And you’re right, the food is great.”
They were seated quickly, at a high top table in the bar area. Bree hadn’t seen either of Jace’s friends.
“I’d ask if this is someplace you came with Zack, but it hasn’t been open that long.”
“No, not Zack.”
“Who, then?”
“Jace brought me here last summer. The husband and wife who own it are friends of his from Aspen.”
“I see.” He studied the menu. “Sake okay with you?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Hot or cold.”
“Hot, please.”
“Good girl,” he answered.
After the waiter took their drink order, Red sat with his hands folded on the table.
“Who should we talk about first?”
“What do you mean?”
“Jace or Zack. We’re going to talk about them both tonight, so you decide which you’d like to talk about first.”
“Red, I really don’t—”
“Nope, I insist. If you can’t decide, I will. Let’s start with Zack.”
She glared at him and folded her arms.
“You don’t want to talk? I will. How long were you married?”
“Five years.”
“How old were you when you met?”
“I was fifteen, Zack was seventeen.”