Ellis didn’t talk about her family much. At least not on the first date. Wait, was that what this was? Were they on a date? Giving herself a mental shake, she tried not to wonder why she felt so comfortable with Cherry, who was essentially a complete stranger. “No, I’m from Pennsylvania. My mom died when we were young. And then…” She cleared her throat. “Five years ago, my younger sister got in a car accident. She was in a place in PA, but when my dad died two years ago, I found a better facility called Hearts and Hands and had her moved there. Here, I mean. In Northwood.”
“Oh wow.” Cherry swallowed audibly, and her expression showed sympathy, understanding, sadness. And before Ellis could even register it happening, Cherry reached across the table and covered Ellis’s hand with hers. Cherry’s was warm and soft, and Ellis instantly knew she’d remember this moment, the first time they’d ever really touched. “I’m so sorry, Ellis. That’s awful. For what it’s worth, I hear good things about Hearts and Hands. My roommate’s grandma was there for a while. Really great, caring people.”
Hang on.
“Your roommate?” she asked, going for nonchalant.
“Yeah, I have two. Adam and Shea. Adam is gay, single, juggles several jobs, and is a big sweetheart. Shea is a graphic designer, also currently single, but certain that Idris Elba is going to give her a call any day.”
Ellis wasn’t happy about the relief that flooded through her overthe fact that Cherry likely wasn’t sleeping with either of her roommates. She didn’t want to analyze that. “I mean, if you’re gonna get a call, you could get one from worse than Idris Elba, right?”
“Seriously. I’d take that call, and I like girls.” Cherry flushed pink then, and Ellis wasn’t sure if it was because of what she’d said or because of the way Ellis was looking at her. The eye contact was serious. Intense. Weighted.
“Me, too,” Ellis said simply, then lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.Yup. Nonchalant. That’s me.
Cherry grinned. “Glad to see my gaydar is in proper working order.”
And then there was silence as they ate, but it was a happy silence. One filled with occasional glances and grins.
When Ellis had eaten all she could manage without exploding her entire stomach, she asked, “So, what about you? Are you from here? Family?”
“I am from here, yes.” Cherry dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “From Cleaver, just outside the suburbs, in the sticks. I never really knew my mom. She bolted when I was just a toddler, so it was just me and my dad. Who was not the nicest guy around, but he did the best he could with what he had.”
“And where is he now? Still in Cleaver?”
“Nope. Been at St. Anthony’s Cemetery over off Main for three years now.”
“Shit. I’m sorry, Cherry.” Cherry’s shrug and clear indifference surprised her, though.
“Thanks. Like I said, he wasn’t the greatest guy.”
“But he was your dad.”
“True.”
“Siblings? Grandparents?”
“Nope. None. Just me.”
“Seems we are quite a pair,” Ellis said and smiled at her.
“Seems that way.”
Gazes held and Ellis was struck again by how weird it was that they had clicked so thoroughly so fast. Given their circumstances, maybe the Universe wanted them to find each other. There wasn’t a lot that Ellis took on faith, but she did believe almost anything was possible.
“Well,” Cherry said as the bill came, and she snapped it up before Ellis could even think to grab it. “I should probably get home. And you have some cat supply shopping to do.”
“I do! I almost forgot.” She’d been having such a great time with Cherry, she’d totally spaced on the earlier part of the day. She had supplies to buy if she was going to welcome Nugget into her home the next day. “And next time I invite you to a meal, you have to let me pay.”
“We’ll see about that.” Cherry’s grin was flirty, and her dark eyes sparkled.
They walked out of The Flip together and saw that it had rained while they ate. Ellis gave an involuntary shiver.
“It’s cooled down.”
“April in Upstate New York, am I right?”
“Totally.”
