I followed Maribel through the Boardwalk's inner stretch, hands in my pockets, still not entirely sure how I felt about where we were headed.
"Why do you look like that?" Maribel said without turning around, apparently able to read my expression from the back of her head. "Everyone here would jump at the chance to eat at Carmen's. You're acting like it's a chore."
"Because everyone would jump at the chance," I said dryly. "And we both know why."
From the little time spent here I saw how popular she was among adults men.
Maribel stopped and turned to look at me. "Huh?"
I stopped too, catching the genuine surprise on her face, and felt the awkwardness of what I'd just said settle over me like a wet blanket.
Smooth, Ryan.
"I mean… I've heard people talking," I said, shrugging it off as casually as I could manage. "Around the Boardwalk. Some of the others. She's..." I searched for the least loaded way to finish the sentence. "She's clearly someone people notice."
