Addicted

"Yeah. It's really sad, actually." She glanced down as they called out our number.

I started to get up, but she stood and pushed at my shoulder. "I'll get it for us. I want to."

Turning to watch her walk to the front, I swore to myself that if she and I ever decided to get together in a long-term relationship, I'd be sure to show her what love looked like. I was well aware of the importance of showing someone I loved them, as well as telling them. If it hadn't been for Sam's family, I'd not have really known what a healthy relationship between a man and a woman looked like, either.

Val sat my plate down in front of me and then took her seat again. The sexy smile that lifted her lips caught my attention, and I couldn't help but stare at her for a few minutes.

"Valentine." She surprised me by jerking her head up as if she'd been scolded. "Why are you here with me? I'm not your kind of guy at all, from what I can tell."

"I think that's exactly why." She opened my chip bag and then her own, taking care of me, whether she realized it or not. "I'm tired of living my life. I want to live someone else’s."

"Have your parents ever told you that they love you? Are they just standoffish to each other or to you as well?" I shouldn't have been digging, but I wanted to know so damn bad – mostly from curiosity, but there was a part of me that wanted to understand where the sadness in her eyes came from.

"No, but it’s okay." She shrugged and picked up her sandwich. "Tell me more about Sam."

I smiled, understanding her need to divert the conversation. "He's been my best friend my whole life. His parents half raised me. He's going to UMN right now, but will be leaving soon for med-school in Boston. I'm going to miss his ass like crazy, but I figure I'll have to keep in touch until he comes back home."

"Is he coming back here?" She nibbled at her sandwich as I took a large bite of mine and nodded my head.

"Yeah, I think so. This is home for both of us." I wiped my mouth as my phone buzzed in my pocket. "What are your plans after college?"

She shrugged and glanced down at her food. I could tell I'd hit a sore spot.

"I don't know. My degree is in business, but I've always seen myself as a basketball player or a coach for UMN." She shrugged, and I stopped myself from reaching over and squeezing her hand encouragingly.

My phone buzzed agai

n, and I pulled it from my pocket to see that it was my mother.

"Not again," I grumbled and stood up. "I need to take this."

"Yeah, sure." Val's eyes filled with concern, but I ignored it and walked outside.

"Mom, what's up?"

"Tate. I meant to tell you that I've been getting threatening texts from Daniel for the last few days. His hearing is tomorrow, but the texts are getting worse and he's out on bail. I think I should go stay with my sister for a few days." Her voice was tight with fear.

"I think that's a good idea. Stay there and I'll come home and help you get packed up. It might be best for me to drive you over there and then bring your car back. That way he really has no clue of where you are." Terror raced through me, and I let out a long sigh. This shit was nonstop as of late.

"Okay. Hurry. I'm scared he's on his way again."

"Okay, Mom. Go if you think you need to. Just be safe. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby." She dropped the call.

I turned and walked back into the restaurant as Val glanced up. "Everything okay?"

"No, I need to get home. My mother’s ex is a crazy bastard and he's likely to head out to the house, which is never good." I started to wrap up my sandwich. "I'm sorry to cut this short."

"Then don't." She got up and wrapped up her sandwich, too. "I'm coming with you. I want to meet your mom, anyway. She sounds great."

"Now is really not the time, Val. It gets ugly, fast." I shoved my sandwich and chips into the empty bag on the table. Much to my surprise, she grabbed the bag and put her food in there, too.

"I'm strong and have had enough self-defense classes to take your big ass to the ground or anyone else who threatens me. Let's go. Seriously. I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone." She pushed at my chest and smiled. "Besides, you promised me a date and you've yet to come through. We'll just consider this part of the adventure."

I rolled my eyes, but followed her out. "It's not like you think. I'm poor, okay? Like dirt-floor poor."

My heart constricted painfully as she turned to face me. Her fingers brushed by my cheek, and the look in her eyes echoed the truth of her words before she spoke them.