wheel. “Sometimes I wish I hadn’t said anything at all.”
Yasmine sighed and leaned her head against the window. “I’m glad you did. I only wish I’d clued in sooner, because by the time I tried to tell you the same thing, you already had a girlfriend from school. Do you remember that?”
Noel scratched his chin, thinking. “Actually, no. You tried to tell me you had a crush on me?”
She laughed softly. “Figures. Yes, it was the last time we saw each other. Our moms had Bible study group and you hadn’t come for a while, but that day you came and you brought Suzanna. Cute blonde, thinner than me. Great legs—I think she ran track at school? Anyway, I poured sparkling apple juice for all of us and then went to the freezer for a package of frozen pitas to make a snack. You followed me and asked if you could help with anything. I was so startled that you’d do that—you were usually clueless about that kind of thing.”
“How do you remember all this?” Noel shook his head in disbelief. “I remember that I came over that day and there was a girl with me, but I can barely recall what she looked like, let alone what happened.”
Yasmine groaned. “Boys! Go figure! It was literally that moment that I tried to tell you I finally had a crush on you, too. But I tried to be, you know, kinda subtle about it because I was afraid that Suzanna would overhear.”
“Uh, I think you were far too subtle, because I honestly don’t remember that.”
“Turn right up here. And of course you don’t.” She twisted in her seat to face him, though he kept his eyes on the road. “I don’t remember what you said, but it was something hurtful. I know it wasn’t meant to be and you’d misunderstood me, but it felt like a rejection all the same. The next day, my aunt and mom explained that we were going to visit family in Amar because my grandmother had fallen ill.”
“But you never came back. You’re telling me you were supposed to be there only for a visit?”
She swallowed the urge to cut off her story, to give him a patronizing answer and not relive the next part of the tale. But she’d already started telling it, and it would be cruel to back down now. “I promise this is the truth, Noel. I didn’t mean to disappear without a word, but the illness was sudden, and we had to leave quickly. I’d never met my grandmother before, and my mom wanted me to have that chance before she passed. When we arrived, her condition had worsened, and it was clear she wouldn’t be with us much longer, so mom wanted to stay and be with her to the end. My schoolwork for the rest of the year was done through mail and email, and by the time my grandmother went to be with Jesus, we were so engrained with my extended family and my mother was so heartbroken by the loss of her mother that we stayed. My dad was still alive at the time and able to work remotely, so one week blended into the next, and the next thing I knew...”
“Ten years had passed,” Noel murmured. “That still doesn’t explain why you didn’t contact me. Daniel sent a few letters. Did you know that? I didn’t see him after he moved back to the States, but he called me once to see how I was doing.”
“Sounds like Daniel,” Yasmine said. Her words hitched, a lump forming in her throat. “I really miss him.”
“Me, too.” She wasn’t the only one having difficulty—she heard Noel’s words grow thick with emotion. “I wish I’d had a chance to say goodbye. Or anything, really.”
Silence descended once again as the memory of Daniel washed over them. She heard the hitch of Noel’s breath and wished that they weren’t driving so she could reach out to him, take back the way she’d snapped at him earlier when he’d only tried to help. He had helped, and generously so. Then again, what made her think that he’d find comfort in her?
“It’s the third house on the right up here, the yellow one with lavender flowers in front.”
Noel pulled into her aunt’s driveway, and Yasmine couldn’t help but feel regretful that their conversation had ended on such a low note—but at the same time, she didn’t know what to say to make it better.
“Breakfast tomorrow?”
She whipped her head around, certain she’d heard him wrong. “Breakfast? Together?” He laughed, and she felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks. Of course he didn’t know what a ludicrous suggestion that was. “You realize I have to be at the bakery by five in the morning to get everything ready for the day, right? We’d have to eat at four fifteen, four thirty at the latest.”
His smile slipped at the mention of a four o’clock start to the day. “That’s... You do that every day? Do you have to?” She raised one eyebrow at him, and he lifted his palms in defeat. “Okay, okay. How about this? I’ll drive you to work. We can grab coffee and a breakfast sandwich on the way, and we can talk in the car. I’m heading that direction back to the station tomorrow anyway. Officer Wayne started to see reason and agreed with me that where there’s a shooter who takes his own life, the boss can’t be far behind. Just in case there’s still a danger to you, I’m going to be hanging around outside your aunt’s place tonight. An officer on patrol might come spell me for a bit if I can convince Captain Simcoe, but you won’t be alone. I don’t think we can be too careful after today’s events.”
She shook her head. “I appreciate it, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to, and you can’t talk me out of it. I’ll be ready to go at quarter to five tomorrow, okay?”
Yasmine wanted to yell that the police should really be the ones setting a watch for her when Daniel’s killer roamed free, that Noel didn’t need to exhaust himself on her behalf, but at least it would be a start. Once Officer Wayne finished examining her reports and corroborated them with the events of today—and accepted that even an FBI agent believed that something dangerous was happening—he’d have to believe her. Maybe even send the case up to the captain, who held the power to launch a real investigation.
In the meantime, Noel driving her to work would be, well, nice. He didn’t think she was crazy, and she found herself almost looking forward to spending a little more time together. Their conversations had all been cut too short.
“Fine, but four thirty is a better time. I don’t want to stop for any of those mass-produced chain restaurant pastries. Mine are much tastier. Actually—” She paused, her legs dangling out the door. “We’ll go right to the store. You can sit behind the counter as I prep. I’ll make breakfast. Tomorrow is salted caramel cinnamon roll and blueberry lavender scone day.”
Noel’s smile returned, and Yasmine felt her expression mirror his in spite of herself. “Now that will be worth waiting here through the night for.”
He waved as she shut the door and walked up the front steps to her aunt’s house. As she stepped inside, she looked back over her shoulder at the childhood friend who waited to ensure she made it safely. She waved back at him as she crossed the threshold, then closed the door as he parked across the street.
Only then did it occur to her that her heart was beating rapidly, her palms warm and her cheeks flushed. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, the truth was impossible to deny—her reaction had nothing to do with all the bullets that had flown at her today, and everything to do with the handsome FBI agent whose car she’d leaped inside of only hours before.
* * *
Noel’s cell phone alarm woke him at four thirty-two the following morning. He waved at the police cruiser that had pulled up a few hours ago to allow
