Not Even Close (A New Generation) by Elizabeth Reyes (books to read in a lifetime txt) 📗

“Today and tonight will be out of the question. My dad was prettyadamant that I meet up with them as early as possible. So, since our plans havechanged, I can acquiesce him now. He’ll be happy about that. But the one thingI had agreed to do since yesterday was the show in Hollywood, he bought ticketsfor tonight. Not sure how late we’ll be out, and I didn’t ask about their accommodations,so I have no idea who’ll be coming home with me to my dorm tonight. But I don’tthink they have any solid plans for tomorrow. I can figure some way of sneakingaway I’m sure.”

Byron cursed himself for not having had the balls to just inviteher to lunch with his nieces to begin with. He only had himself to blame forgiving her an out. But at least the conversation had taken a turn. Despitetheir amazing time on the beach last week, all week he’d been careful to notsound too pushy—too needy—too much like already he wanted more than thejust-friends relationship, she’d made all too clear is the most she was willingto do. Even his associates and more-than-friends crap, had obviouslybeen an avoided topic all week.

She’d made the first move by admitting she missed him. Thatcouldn’t be something she said to all her friends, right? And as busy as she’dbeen all week, when else could she have had time to sneak in anything withanyone else? Despite the all day-long texts, phone calls, and video chattingthey’d done this past week, she’d pointed out she was doing it on her verylimited down time. So, like Byron was doing with her, any available time shehad from her busy life, clearly, he’d been her priority as well. Including everynight they’d spent talking until lights out.

Ever since their night at the beach, Byron hadn’t so much asconsidered calling back or even returning any texts from any other girls who’dreached out that week. As much as he was trying to not just make assumptions, ithad to be a given that Vannah wasn’t making time for anyone else either, right?

After regrettably confirming he wouldn’t be seeing Vannah again todayeither, since she had plans with her family all day and night, they were offthe phone. But she did promise to try and work something out so they might gettogether tomorrow.

With a busy morning at the shop, the time to pick up the girlscame around before Byron knew it. He washed up and headed out to their schoolpondering on where he’d take them to lunch. The last couple of times had beenOlive Garden and it was getting old. He knew they liked Mexican and decided KingTaco it was. Their street tacos were the perfect size for his two Littles. He’dtaken them there before and they liked it. Though, like a lot of things theywere complete opposites when it came to how they liked their tacos.

You’d think Elsa who was the oldest would be the bravest, and morewilling to try new stuff. But she always asked for her tacos plain. Lucy, onthe other hand, liked hers with plenty of cilantro, onions, and green sauce. Italways made Byron chuckle when he’d watch her eat tortilla chips. She’d dipeach one into hot salsa, and after taking a bite, she’d suck air into her puckeredlittle lips, because it was so spicy. Then dip it right back in for more.

Lucy and Byron were at the salsa bar at the busy taco place, whileElsa saved them a booth a few feet away. “I want some of that.” Lucy pointed atthe bowl with the pickled carrots and jalapeños.

“The jalapeño escabeche?”

Calling it by its real name had Byron pressing his lips together andbreathing in deep. His mother was the only one who ever used the proper namefor it. Everyone else he knew just referred to it as his first thought, pickledcarrots, and jalapeños. Shaking off any more thoughts of his mother, he glancedback at his niece’s big eyes as she nodded.

“That’s some spicy stuff, mamas. You sure?”

“I’ve had it befoh,” she said wide eyed. “I like it.”

Never being one to say no to either of his girls, Byronreached over for a container and grabbed a little of the stuff for her, sinceit was out of her reach. Glancing around for a bigger lid since the containerfor this stuff was bigger than the smaller ones for the salsas, he did a doubletake when something caught his eye. There was a couple headed out of therestaurant hand in hand. For a moment there, he thought it might be Vannah and washit with a lightening like bolt of heat instantly, but it wasn’t her.

It couldn’t be.

“Uncle, B?” Byron turned to Elsa who was holding up the receipt fortheir food. “They’re calling our number.”

Pulled out of his thoughts about the couple walking out, Byron andLucy walked over to Elsa. He motioned for Lucy to take a seat by her sister andtook the receipt from Elsa. “I’ll be right back.”

He rushed over to the counter where the lady had his tray ready.When he turned back toward the booth where the girls were, he glanced out intothe parking lot. Once again, he did a double take and froze.

“No fucking way,” he muttered under his breath feeling his insidesignite as he watched Vannah peck the guy on the lips and smile big beforegetting into the passenger side of a small sedan.

There was no mistaking that smile. It was her alright. Swallowinghard, Byron watched as the guy walked around his car, got into the driver sidethen proceeded to lean into Vannah for an even longer kiss.

Despite his insides detonating, Byron remembered his nieces,and he turned back to them. They were both staring at him in question as he stoodthere in place where he’d frozen, so he started toward them again. If itweren’t for them, he knew damn well he’d already be out in the parking lot verymuch causing a scene.

Once he put down the tray on the table in front of his nieces,his attention was on the parking lot again. It wasn’t until the