Page 92 of When Forever Falls Apart

“Wait a minute… I thought this had been going on since the wedding?” Billie exclaims, playfully slapping my arm. “All this time I was on edge, waiting for you to spill the damn beans.”

A sudden wave of panic washes over me, and I graspBillie’s arm nervously. “You didn’t say anything to Eva, did you?”

Billie snorts, a smirk dancing on her lips. “Please, I’m not one to meddle in someone else’s romantic escapades. You and Elliot? You’re quite the perfect pair, if I may say so.”

“You think we’re the perfect pair?” I ask, my heart fluttering slightly at her words.

She meets my gaze with a knowing smile and nods enthusiastically. “It comes naturally, you know. It’s like you guys don’t need to make an effort with each other, and that is hard to find. Men can be hard work, trust me. It’s why I’ve stopped throwing myself out there to just anyone. If my gut doesn’t vibe with them in the first five minutes, I’m out.”

“Huh…”

Billie moves in closer, her eyes filled with curiosity. “But let’s get to the juicy part. How serious is this?”

The question hangs over my head. Aside from the sex, which is off-the-charts explosive, we haven’t had any in-depth talks.

“I’m not really sure,” I finally admit, a heavy sigh escaping my lips as I shove my hands into my pockets. “Things have escalated quickly, and then there’s Myles… you know, wanting to get married and stuff.”

Billie’s eyes widen, disbelief flickering across her features. “Myles wants to get back together? Seriously? When did this happen?”

I motion for her to keep her voice down. “Yesterday. But I really don’t want to get into it right now. Let’s just say it’s got my father’s fingerprints all over it.”

With my hands, I push Billie back to the front, where Elliot is in conversation with a few guys. From what I overhear, they went to high school together, so it’s an impromptu reunion. One of the men is carrying one of those baby slings, which appears to be holding a newborn.

As I begin to clear a table next to the window, my gaze drifts outside, where I spot a man diligently taping a vibrant sign to the glass of the vacant store next door. Intrigued, I decide to step outside to find out what’s happening. The storefront used to be a secondhand thrift shop owned by Frieda. She used to sell quirky items such as vintage typewriters, old phone books, and memorabilia from all around the world. Things you just can’t find anymore. From memory, she passed away when I was living in Brooklyn, and the store has been empty since.

“Is this place being leased?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.

“Yes, ma’am,” the man replies, a hint of nostalgia lacing his voice. “The family of Mrs. Krause has finally decided it’s time for something new to breathe life into this corner of our town.”

I step back inside the café, my mind racing with ideas. There are endless possibilities for what will open next door. Vacant storefronts are a rarity in Cinnamon Springs. The last two were snapped up quickly. The first one opened as a boutique children’s clothing store, and the second became a yarn store. We do have a lot of knitters in town. I only know this because Mrs. Cobbledick invited me to join the Cinnamon Springs knitting group on multiple occasions.

And yes, every time she does, I struggle to keep a straight face.

As the afternoon winds down, I quietly work to wrap everything up as the last of the customers trickle out. Billie and Elliot mentioned earlier that we need to increase our food preparation because we have been selling out earlier than usual.

“Okay, lovebirds. I’m heading out,” Billie calls from the back.“I’d love to say that I have a hot date tonight, but what I do have is a babysitting job across town, and this family pays very well. Also, the gardener is super hot, so double the bonus.”

“How veryDesperate Housewivesof you,” I tease, eyeing her dubiously. “Behave yourself.”

The corner of Billie’s mouth curves into a grin. “And the same to you.Behave.”

As soon as the door clicks shut behind her, Elliot pulls me to the back, lifting me onto the stainless-steel counter. The cool metal startles me, but it doesn’t take me long to adjust when he’s staring at me, ready to eat me alive.

“Here?” I murmur the question as he inches closer, kissing my lips with urgency.

“Not here. I want you in my bed tonight.” Elliot lifts my chin so our eyes meet. I suck in a breath, lost in the pools of blue, wondering how I’m ever going to be able to say no to him. “There are a few things I need to take care of first.”

I wrap my arms around him, curiosity getting the better of me. “Like what?”

He lowers his gaze, the shadow of something unspoken creeping across his features. “Just stuff.”

The shift in his demeanor instantly sends my guard up. I release my embrace, sensing a secrecy behind his words that I don’t like.

“Okay, why are you acting weird?”

“I’m not acting weird. All I said was that I have stuff to take care of,” he states in a cold and uninviting tone.

I hop off the counter. “You know, if this is going to work, Elliot, we need to be honest with each other.”