DESPITE THAT, SHE WAS almost relieved when he showed up the next night shortly before her shift was about to end. He waited for her out back, driving her home and leaving her at the end of the driveway. Once again, she protested that it was unnecessary, and once again, he grunted and told her to text him. They repeated that pattern for the next three nights, and by the fifth night of him driving her home, she realized it was probably futile to keep protesting.
“Do you have to work Saturday?” He asked her that as he stopped his truck at the end of her drive, leaving it running.
“No, I’m off this weekend.”
“Will you have dinner with me?”
Claire stiffened at the invitation, not entirely surprised to hear it, but certain she should do her best to reject it. She turned her head, intent on t
