“But—”
“Too bad.” I glared.
Darcy sulked. “You promised.”
“I promised nothing would happen, now shut up and listen.”
Tallus scoped the area and nodded. “Once I have him, do you want me to sit and wait or take off?”
“Sit. We’ll connect a call and keep it on speaker, that way I can let you know if or when I see Luke arrive.”
“You don’t even know what he looks like,” Darcy said.
“You gave me a vague description. Plus, he’ll be the guy picking up your fake envelope and acting familiar with the barista. We aren’t confronting him,” I said to Tallus. “We’re gathering information. I’ve got my camera. I’ll try to get a few shots. I want the make and model of his car. If we can tail him home and get an address, even better. No. Confrontation.”
“Got it. Let’s get this show on the road.” Tallus leaned in the window and stole a kiss.
Darcy groaned, muttering, “So gay.”
I gave him the finger.
Tallus relocated to the side street, and once he was in place, I spent ten minutes taking inventory of every car and person in the vicinity before sending Darcy to deliver the fake envelope of money.
As he crossed the street, I called Tallus.
“That kid is a brat,” Tallus announced the second the line connected.
“You’re a brat too sometimes.”
“In a cute way. He’s homophobic.”
“He’s harmless.”
Tallus scoffed. “I thought you hated teenagers.”
“Technically, he’s an adult.”
“Technically,” Tallus mocked, “he doesn’t act like one.”
I chuckled. “Neither do you sometimes. Why are you so cranky?”
“I’m not cranky. I just… don’t like sharing your attention.”
“You’re not, Tallus.”
“I am.” His sulky tone was identical to the one Darcy had used a few minutes ago.
I cut my gaze from the café window, where Darcy approached the counter, to Tallus’s Jetta parked around the corner. The windshield was too dark to see through, but I sensed his pout and his gaze aimed at the Jeep.
My heart warmed. I couldn’t remember a single time in my life when I’d caused anyone to feel jealous. This was twice in a few days, but I had no idea what he was worried about. He owned me heart and soul.
“I love you, Tallus.”
“I know. I’m used to having you all to myself.”
“He’s had a tough go. He needs people.”
“I get it, but what’s the end game? He can’t stay with us forever.”