“Anyhow, I figured you could use somewhere to escape for a bit before we dive into too many people and not enough oxygen. Give your edible a little extra time to kick in.” I lean back. “Did you even take one?”
“You know you didn’t need to do this, right? It’s not your problem, and I’m sorry if I’m being difficult.”
“You don’t need to be sorry; it’s not your fault.” I’m throwing darts in the dark to find a way to help her. I’ve known her for less than a day. That’s not enough time to learn how to pull her out of this headspace, but I keep trying. “Is she who called you last night?”
“How could you tell?” There’s a trace of sarcasm in her voice.
“It was something in your eyes. You’ve got it now; it says you’d rather hide under the covers than be wherever you are.” I bite my lip, hoping I’m not going too far with this. “Besides, your co-worker hitting on a guy you’ve known for a few hours wasn’t enough to set someone like you off. I’m sure I didn’t help, and I was hoping it wasn’t just because I’m a dick. It seemed like there was something more wrong.”
I can’t stop looking at her. I’m trying, but I simply can’t. My hand is twitching again; I would give anything for a pencil and a piece of paper. Fuck, give me some chalk and a bit of clear sidewalk—I don’t care. I need to draw her. The sensation should have faded by now, but it’s growing stronger.
“Yeah, well, I did a lot of things wrong last night. Going in the first place, everything I did with you, smacking Kennedy in the face. None of that was very professional or normal for me.”
“You smacked her? Well, Kennedy deserved it after how she treated you. As for what we did, why was that wrong?” I lean forward and stare into those two deep amber pools. “I think we should finish what we started. Possibly a few times.”
She looks surprised and lets out a fake laugh. “No, you don’t. It’s okay.” A small strand of hair has fallen out of her ponytail. I wait, giving her long enough to fix it herself. When she doesn’t, I reach over and gently tuck it behind her ear, letting my fingers linger on the shell of her ear as our eyes meet.
Fuck. Her hair is so soft, and I want to run my fingers through it while I kiss her. I have a hunch she tastes like candy.
“Here you go, kids, one fresh giant muffin!” I pull my hand away from her and sit back. Lexi also pulls back, bringing her knee up to her chest, fixating on something off in the distance.
I nod and smile at the waitress. As she walks away, my head rocks back until I stare at the ceiling. The longer she stays quiet, the longer I overthink everything. Right now, I’m focused on how she’s wishing last night hadn’t happened while I desperately hope it happens again. Keeping it all out of my head has been…difficult—her smell, her warmth, how in control she was. I rub my eyes, trying to clear my mind.
“The muffin is really good.”
I watch her rip off a chunk from the side and take the tiniest, mousiest bite. She licks the sticky caramel off her lips, watching me the whole time, so I know she sees how hard I swallow. Is she flirting? Coming on to me?After all that? How can I complete a three-week project with her if I can’t stop daydreaming about how she tastes and what her lips feel like?
We’re interrupted again when the owner drops off our drinks, pulls out a toothpick, and draws a duck’s head in the foam. Just like I’d described—he’s no Picasso, but the thought behind it counts.
“Tell your pops I said hi, and you kids don’t be strangers, okay?” As he leaves, my phone buzzes.
Unknown Number
Why aren’t you answering me, Jamie?
Have you got a pretty new toy for me to play with?
I hope it’s not the blonde. She was way too easy, wasn’t she?
“Okay, you were right. It’s cute,” Lexi comments, pulling me back to the here and now before I turn my phone over. She’s looking down into her cup of coffee. “I mean, I almost don’t want to drink it, but it’s probably twice as offensive if I don’t.”
I nod, barely hearing her as I frown into my own cup and watch the figure slowly melt away as I stir it with the spoon. Why did I come here? I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, keeping myself from spiraling into the memories. I want to be there for her—but fuck—this hurts.
“North Carolina.”
“What?”
“You asked where I was from and I never answered you. I’m from North Carolina.”
“Oh,” I answer flatly, still watching the swirling liquid and rising steam but unable to focus on them. She’s nervous and I know what’s coming next, but I won’t stop her. I understand why I came here now. To be somewhere familiar and close to my happier memories. It’s okay; she shouldn’t be interested in a mess like me.
“Look, I don’t know how to say this, but uhm…I’m not the girl for you. I think you’re really…great…but we should just work together. Keep it professional.”
“Yeah, I know.” I nod, dropping my eyes to catch the last remnants of the melting duck figure. “I knew that at the coffee shop when I first saw you. I hoped Dani finally got one right, but it’s fine. You’re so out of my league, not even in the same sport.”
“No, I’m not,” she says defensively, before laughing. “I’m nothing like that. I’m a normal, boring girl with issues and a weird family. You’re the hot, mysterious photographer, slash artist, slash handyman. I’m sure you’ll be fine even if you are shy.”
I should let it go. Normally, I would. I’d take this as a sign that this isn’t going to happen, and I’d move on. I glance back through the window and see that picture my dad did, and it’s like he’s here behind me, pushing me forward. Maybe there is an afterlife, and he heard me last night at his door. Maybe that’s why I picked this restaurant, of all places, to take Lexi. He really would have liked her.
