Page 38 of Sunset Catchers

“Thank you”

“I’m thirty-two.”

“That’s twice more time, Levi!” He just shrugs, grinning. “I’m twenty-eight,” I say, not knowing why I say it.

“We’re not even in the same decade,” he says.

“I think our age gap is acceptable.” His brows shoot up his face, his smile turns sly. My ears heat up. “As friends,” I amend. We’re due for a change of subject.

“What does Ben do for work?”

“He owns a coffee shop. Maybe you’ve been there already? The Sip&Chin?”

“Can’t say that I have. I haven’t been around much yet.”

“I’ll take you there. If you want to.”

“Sure.” He beams at me, and ouch. A pinch in my chest.

“Although, it does depend,” I add.

“On what?”

“How good the iced coffee is.”

“It’s the best. With the creamiest oat milk. Served in this to-go cup with a pretty design on it.”

“Stop, Levi. I’m getting turned on.”

A hearty laugh rouses out of him. It illuminates his whole face. A buzzing sound has Levi reaching for his own phone. His thumb swipes at his screen, silencing the noise, then he puts his phone away.

“It’s five past eight,” he declares, smirking.

“Is the beach closing or something?”

He shakes his head. “We’re officially in friend time territory,” he explains.

Oh, right.

I did make it a point not to find myself in Levi’s presence past eight. The guy even put a reminder on his phone, just so he could throw it in my face.

Surprisingly, I don’t feel any kind of way about it. I’m confident the heat warming me from the inside out has nothing to do with this.

“I guess we are.” Levi’s eyes are sparkling seas of blue. “Simmer down, big stud. This changes nothing.”

He makes a dismissal sound. It’s not as if I am agreeing to become his best buddy or whatever, but maybe we could be more than coworkers.

Being friends sounds nice.

“You know, there are a few other places around here that I’d love to show you. If you are up to it.” He seems so hopeful; it sickens me. I think about what it would mean, which is mostly spending even more time with Levi.

It doesn’t sound too bad. Plus, I do want to see more of what Prince Edward County has to offer, and Levi is so familiar with the place, might as well make good use of our budding friendship

“I’m up for it.”

His smile right then. Beach wide.

We stare for a bit too long, averting our eyes at the same time.