Page 84 of Little Bitter Truths
“I’m glad you came,” Mia said.
Renee’s face lit up.“You are?”
She hugged Mia once more, gentler this time.
“We’ll meet you for lunch at two at the Blue Pelican,” she said.
“Sounds good.”
Bryan loaded the suitcases back into the SUV while Mia and Renee said their goodbyes, and I stepped aside, glancing around the neighborhood while they talked.
A large truck turned onto the street, catching my attention.
Mia noticed it at the same time I did, and she leaned toward me.“That’s Adrian.”
The truck slowed as it approached.It was larger than I’d expected, the kind of vehicle that looked as though it required a ladder to climb inside.The windows were heavily tinted, too dark to reveal who was behind the wheel, even though Mia had recognized the vehicle Adrian’s.When it turned into the driveway across the street, a surge of anticipation ran through me.
Adrian stepped out a minute later.Even from across the street, I could see he looked displeased to find a crowd gathered in Mia’s driveway.
His gaze landed on Mia first.
Then me.
Then Bryan and Renee.
It was as if he was assessing the situation.
Beside me, Mia shifted.
“Does Adrian always seem annoyed when he looks at you?”I asked.
“Most of the time.”
Having no context about the situation, Renee chimed in with, “He may just have one of those faces.”
“No,” Mia said.“We’ve met.He doesn’t like me.”
“Why not?”Bryan asked.
“It’s a long story.I’ll tell you at lunch.”
Bryan nodded and then smiled at Renee, gesturing for her to follow him to the SUV.He started the engine, backed out of the driveway, and Mia waved as they started down the road.
“That was weird, wasn’t it?”she said.
“I thought it went all right for a first visit.”
“You’ll come to lunch with me, won’t you?”
Had she not asked, I was planning to suggest it anyway, if only so I’d know she was safe.
“Sure, if that’s what you want,” I said.
Adrian slammed his truck door harder than necessary and started toward his front porch.He stopped halfway and glanced over at us again, not waving or acknowledging either of us at first.It was as if he wanted us to know he was watching, which was even more unsettling.
When his gaze landed on me a second time, he tipped his head at me in acknowledgement and offered a slight smile.Then he disappeared inside the house.
“What convenient timing,” I said.
