Page 20 of Cabin Mate

My heart feels like someone is grabbing it and twisting. Hearing her say those words with such conviction doesn’t give me much hope for anything ever developing past friendship between her and I.

But I’d rather be her friend than be nothing at all … so with all the strength I can muster, I say something that’s hopefully encouraging. “Yeah. I bet he’ll come to his senses soon.”

“Thanks, I hope you’re right.” She smiles, looking a little more like herself now. “You’re such a good friend.”

I smile back at her, but the word friend reverberates in my mind over and over again like a curse. I’ve never been friend zoned in my entire life … never been turned down by a female. And the one girl I truly want is the first one to do it.

So I’ll continue being her friend and do some antiquing tomorrow to look for spoons. That’s one way I know to brighten up her bad days: get her a new antique spoon for her collection. I always attach an anonymous note to it and laugh that she can’t ever seem to figure out who it’s from. Todd usually gets credit for the spoons … which is annoying.

But I keep doing it anyway.

Maybe someday she’ll put the pieces together. Then perhaps she’ll see I’m the one who really sees her, really understands her … really wants her to be mine.

Chapter 9

Molly

I find a small red box on my desk when I arrive at work the next day. The box is wrapped in white ribbon with a note attached to it. By the handwriting, I can tell it’s going to be an antique spoon for my collection from my infamous secret admirer.

Why does Todd bother? Anytime I have a bad day or we break up, he sends me a spoon and it tugs at my heartstrings.

My grandmother gave me my first spoon when I was born. It’s a small, silver polished spoon with a little kitten engraved in the handle. Yes … I was literally born with a silver spoon. The irony is not lost on me.

Curiosity gets the best of me and I rip open the box before reading the note.

The strangest things about Todd sending me a spoon at a time like this is:

He’s with Trudy.

He has always made fun of my spoon collection and told me it’s stupid.

He never even showed any interest in antiquing with me … so where does he find the spoons?

Well, sorry, Todd. You’re not spooning your way into my heart this time, buddy. Save your overrated spoons for Trudy. I pull the lid off the box and gasp. Okay, I may keep this one after all. Trudy can have the next one.

I pull a shiny golden spoon out of the box. It has an intricately engraved handle, and crystals are embedded throughout along with small red stones that look like rubies.

“Wow,” I whisper to myself.

“Wow, what?” Layla’s voice comes from my open office door, making me jump and nearly drop my new spoon.

Layla walks over to see what I’m holding, and I hand her the fabulous little spoon and then read the note.

Molly,

You’re like this spoon … classically beautiful, but unique. You stand out from all the others.

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

“This is so beautiful! Is it from the infamous secret admirer?” Layla asks, twirling the spoon and admiring it.

Layla’s comment makes me chuckle and I look up from the note, shaking my head at her. “Yep.” I say, holding the note up so she can see it.

“And you’ve been getting them since college, right?” she asks, taking the note from my hand and reading it with a smile.

I nod. “Yep. They always show up after I’ve had a horrible day or Todd and I have broken up.”