Page 147 of Cautious Love

“Are you alright?” she asks.

I shrug and keep wiping off the same cup I’ve been polishing.

“How are you settling into your new place? Did you pick out some furniture yet?” she asks.

I smile at my friend, but it physically hurts to do it. “No, I uh … wanted to save a bit more money to do it.”

“Fair enough. Everything is so expensive these days.”

I nod absently.

“Oh, hey, sheriff, how are you?” Bear says behind the window.

My stomach drops to my feet, and it feels like rocks are filling my throat. I’m drowning on dry land. I slowly turn around and meet his steady brown eyes. They say everything and nothing, and it takes monumental effort not to throw myself into his arms.

“Hey there, Bear, Mollie-Mae, Shiloh.”

Mollie waves and asks him what he’d like to order.

He gets lunch to go, but keeps glancing at me even though she’s the one taking his order.

When she finishes, he saunters down the long countertop and slips onto a barstool right in front of me, his hands on the top, wedding ring clinking on the surface. “Hey Shy.”

“Hi,” I squeak. I feel a little lightheaded, and I want to cry. It hasn’t been two days since I saw him, and I’m convinced this is torture.

“Are you busy tonight?” he asks.

I shrug. I’m not, but he doesn’t need to know that.

“I was wondering if you wanted to come over for a bit. I’ll make dinner.” His gaze is hopeful, and I know I’m going because I can’t tell him no.

“I’m not sure,” I whisper.

“Why not?” he asks.

“Because friends don’t make each other romantic dinners,” I mumble, reaching for a salt shaker that doesn’t need to be refilled, but I need to do something with my hands.

“Who said it was a romantic dinner?” he asks me.

I roll my eyes in an attempt to hide my smile and fail pretty quickly.

He chuckles and stands when Mollie calls for him.

“I’ll see you at six then?” he asks.

Dammit.“Yeah, sure. I’ll see you then.”

The corner of his mouth tips up, and he raps his knuckles on the counter.

He takes his bag from Mollie-Mae and saunters out the door.

“What was that all about?” Mollie asks me.

I take a deep breath and shake my head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

Lies. Lies. Lies. Nothing but lies.

I shouldn’t be driving to the home I’ve missed every single day since I left it, but I am. Maybe I should have walked. Leaving my car out front is probably a terrible idea.