Page 160 of Right Man, Right Time
“I bet you do.” Ross wiggles his brows.
* * *
I stepinto the quaint coffee shop and look around. Exposed beams run along the ceiling while a variety of plants open up the space, making it feel like a jungle. Hence the name Jungle Café. I’ve never been here, but from the pine wood floors to the delicious aroma and the adorable booths that extend at least seven feet high and connect bulbed lights from one end to the other, there’s no doubt I’ll be bringing Ross here to get some work done.
From the corner of my eye, I catch someone waving, so I turn and find Winnie with two large cups in front of her.
I weave through the tables and sit in the seat across from her. “Oh my God, it’s adorable in here.”
“I know. It’s my favorite place to do my work.” She hands me one cup. “Caramel latte, just for you.”
“You’re so sweet. Thank you.”
“I’m just glad we got to find some time alone to sit and talk.” Winnie is probably the cutest person ever. Such a bright smile with golden-blonde hair and a welcoming personality. It’s obvious why Pacey fell for her and quickly at that. They make such a cute couple.
“I’m grateful. This whole dating a hockey player thing is completely new to me.”
“Well, I’ll be your guide and help you through the unexpected bumps. Also, it will be nice to know someone who is going through it as well.”
“Aren’t you close with Penny, Hornsby’s girl?”
“Yes,” Winnie answers. “But she’s also been super pregnant, so she’s on a different level.”
“Ooof, I don’t want that to happen to me for a bit.”
Winnie chuckles. “You have a lot of time to worry about that. Unless . . . you’re not careful with Silas.”
I lift my coffee to my lips. “I’m careful. Very careful.”
“Good.” She smirks. “I’m really happy Silas found you. I know I said that before, but I am. He’s such a good guy. It’s so nice to see him happy.”
“Well, he makes me happy too.”
“I hope this isn’t too presumptuous, but he told Pacey and me about your fake arrangement.”
“I figured he did.”
“How on earth did you have the confidence to just go up to him and kiss him? I doubt I could ever do that.”
“Desperation makes us do funny things.” I set my coffee down. “There’s this girl I work with who I can’t stand. She’s the type of person who acts cordially to your face while sneaking in insults, and then when you’re not around, plots how to take you down.”
“Oh, don’t you just love people like that?”
“Yeah, they’re the best,” I say with an eye roll. “Well, she’s been out to get me ever since I took one of her Post-it Notes, and she hasn’t let up. She was even put in charge of the end-of-summer assignments and gave me hockey, something I knew nothing about. The night we found out was the night I met Silas. She goaded me at the bar we were hanging out at, and that’s when I discovered she was dating my ex.”
Winnie winces. “Oof, that could not have gone over well.”
“It did not. I wanted to save face and said that my boyfriend was at the bar too. When they didn’t believe me, I saw Silas by himself, walked up to him, and told him I was going to kiss him. When he didn’t tell me no, I did it.”
Winnie chuckles. “That’s so amazing.”
“After that, we made an agreement to help each other out, which you know about already. Honestly, I didn’t think it would turn into this, but if I look back at it, I wonder how it could not. Silas is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The way he makes sure that I’m okay, that I have everything I need . . .” I press my hand to the necklaces he gave me. “He’s truly everything I want.”
“That makes me so happy. You two are seriously the cutest.”
“Thank you. I kind of wish we didn’t start this relationship during the season, because it makes it more difficult, but we’re working it out.”
“It’s hard for sure,” Winnie says. “But it has its bonuses.”
