Page 46 of Sunset Catchers

“Very good.”

“Great. Now, let’s brainstorm some ideas for that middle ground.”

“Not a chance in hell,” she says. My smile leaves the chat. “Now, shall we talk about that thing our MMC did with his tongue in chapter 28?”

For the second time today, I find myself ready to bolt back to my own cottage after knocking on Levi’s door. Only this time, I’ve barely made it down the first step off his porch before the door creaks open behind me.

After talking (giggling like a pair of horny teenagers) for hours about this month’s book club read with Junie, I ate my dinner in my cottage, not wanting to commit to spending the whole meal with Levi. Still, I didn’t want to leave the situation unresolved. So I pep talked myself for half an hour and finally decided to put on my big girl panties and so, here I am.

Levi’s deep blue t-shirt makes his eyes pop.

“Hi,” I greet him, staring.

“Hi,” he says. The curve of his mouth is hopeful; it makes my skin crawl.

“I thought we could sit on your swing and catch the sunset?”

“I’d really love that,” he says right away.

We make our way to the swing, each tucking ourselves into the opposite corners, with our bodies slightly angled toward the other.

“Listen, Levi,” I begin saying at the same time that he says, “Look, Winnie.”

We both breathe out a laugh.

“Ladies, first.”

Of course, the speech I had prepared is nowhere to be found in the confines of my mind at the exact time I part my lips to speak.

Come one, brain, say something, anything!

“I think we both wanted to take a step in the same direction, but ended up on different stairs.”

“That, strangely, makes a lot of sense,” he says while lightly scratching the scruff on his jaw.

“Really? Okay, great. Well, I thought we could find some kind of common ground here.”

“I am sorry for what I said earlier.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

I do my very best to keep the haughtiness away from my demeanor. To hide the shiver of satisfaction that brings bumps over my arms. Like I said; I love an apology.

“What does that middle ground look for you? Do you want to go back to being strictly coworkers? We could just ignore each other and work in silence.” My mouth puckers sideways. “I’d respect your decision if that’s what you wanted,” he adds.

There isn’t even an ounce of doubt in my mind that he truly would if that’s what I wanted. Even if the idea seems somewhat painful to him.

“Honestly, I’ve enjoyed spending time with you as friends.”

“Same, Win.” His overload of honesty perks up my nerves.

“Great. Then, that’s what I’ll say Levi. I don’t like talking about my childhood or my family. But it is in my new understanding that people will ask strangers about personal matters, like whether they want to have kids or not? Weird thing if you ask me, which you shouldn’t because I am clearly not well versed in socializing, but I can concede that some questions you want to ask me might be fine, unlike I’d previously assumed.”

“Do you want to have kids?” He asks me. I’m impressed he got through my word vomit as fast as he did, honestly.

“I’m still undecided on the matter. Do you want to have kids?”

“Not sure,” he says with a shrug.