Page 97 of The Birthday List (Maysen Jar 1)

He chuckled. “If anyone could figure it out though, my money is on you.”

“I think I’ll just save the steak recipes for home. I’ll dig them out when I come over to break in your kitchen.”

His hand covered mine on the bar between us. “I’d like that.”

“Me too.” I turned over my hand to thread my fingers in his.

We hadn’t discussed the kiss we’d shared in his kitchen and we hadn’t had another since. I just hoped he knew that the tears that had followed were not because I’d regretted that moment.

I could never regret that kiss.

“I hope you—”

“Do you want another beer?” The bartender, a young woman with spiked black hair, interrupted.

Cole let go of my hand and reached into his pocket for his wallet. “No. Just the check. Thanks.”

“You got it.” She tapped a cardboard coaster on the bar and walked to the register.

“Here.” He handed me a stack of twenties. “I’ll be right back.”

He stood from his stool, leaning down to kiss my forehead, then walked toward the restrooms. His footsteps were slow and heavy. His broad shoulders stretched the white cotton of his T-shirt as he hunched forward. And the way he was rolling his neck, he must be getting one of his headaches.

“Here you go.” The bartender leaned her arms on the bar after setting down our ticket. “Your husband looks like he had a rough day.”

“Oh, um,” I fumbled the cash as I handed it over, “he’s not my husband.”

Her eyes darted to my left hand, zeroing in on my wedding rings. “Oh-kay.” She pushed off the bar and held up her hands. “No judgment here. Just assumed.”

“No!” My hands flailed as I did my best to explain I wasn’t having an affair. “It’s not like that. I’m . . . I’m not married. My husband passed away and I just haven’t taken off my rings.”

“Sorry.” Her face softened before she spun around and went to the register to make change.

Okay, that was awkward. I twirled the rings on my finger. Was it time to take them off? If I really wanted to move on, I couldn’t keep wearing them.

Before I could work up the courage to pull them off, Cole’s hand landed on my shoulder. “All set?”

I nodded. “She’s just bringing back the change.”

The bartender appeared with cash in hand, but Cole just waved her off. “Keep it. Thanks.”

I hopped off my stool, then followed Cole as we made our way to the front desk to collect the bags we’d dropped off earlier. We took them from the desk clerk, then made our way to the second floor and down a long hallway to our room.

I tossed my bags on one bed as Cole did the same on the other before sinking into the chair by the balcony door. “Go ahead. You can take the first shower.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded and rested his head against the back of the chair.

“Okay. I’ll be fast.” I swiped my bag off the bed and hurried to the bathroom, knowing that the faster I showered, the sooner Cole could get in here and get some sleep.

I turned on the water and stripped off my clothes. The blisters on my feet had started to dry thanks to hours of being exposed to the air, but still, when I stepped under the water, I hissed at the sharp sting. Luckily, it faded fast as I took the fastest shower of my life.

With my hair wrapped in a towel, I emerged from the bathroom, dressed in maroon sleep shorts and a matching camisole. “All done.”

My feet stopped as my eyes landed on Cole.

He’d fallen asleep in the chair.