She wiped her face and sniffled. “I fell walking out of the bar. Hurt my hands and knees. But it’s not a big deal. I’m heading home. I’ll clean myself up. Thanks for checking on me.”
“Wait right here. I have a first aid kit in my truck.” Before she could protest, I jogged over to my truck and grabbed my kit from the glove box. Lumberjacks like me always kept one in the truck and Crew, my boss, insisted we refilled them at least once a month.
Back at her car, she watched me curiously, her window still open.
“Can I slide into the front seat for a second?”
“Sure.”
“Great.” I said as I walked to the other side of her car. “I’m Ravi by the way. Nice to meet you.” I said as I sat in the front seat and placed the kit on my lap.
“Maisie. You’ve probably seen me at the market in town. It’s where I work.”
“Haven’t been yet. But I will be soon. I moved to town last week and my mom sent me a lot of food.”
“That’s sweet of her. Something my grandma would do.”
“Alright, let’s see the damage.” I said, nodding towards her hands.
When she laid them on top of mine, our skin touched, and a spike of electricity ran through me from head to toe.
What is that feeling?
“Whoa.” Maisie muttered and my ears picked up on the word, my insides warming.She feels it too.
While cleaning her wounds, the wordsgo out with mesat on my tip of my tongue frozen, fear gripping me inside. I couldn’t pursue someone right now. Not only did I not have the time, but I also wasn’t in the right place. I already smothered my sister with my overprotective ass, how the hell would I act around a woman I loved?
Your sister is a different story…
“Did we have a little too much fun at the bar tonight?” I teased, breaking the silence.
Maisie chuckled. “No. Only two shots. Got an early morning tomorrow. But it would probably sound better if I told you I was drunk, huh?”
“No, because then I’d be asking you why you were driving home.”
“Good. I would hope so. But no, if I had planned on getting drunk, I’d be catching a ride home. My sister and her friends are grabbing an Uber.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
After tending to her wounds, I cleaned up the trash and placed my hand on the car door handle. I didn’t trust myself to stay a second longer, afraid of what I might do.
Kiss her.
Love her.
Never let her go.
“I hope the rest of your night goes better. Take care, okay?”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
With one last long and lingering look, I opened the car door and stepped out into the night, shutting the door on what might be my future.
Lucky for her, I was doing her a favor.
“What’s gotyou so down in the dumps this morning? It’s probably that damn black coffee you insist on drinking.” Allie made a face over her coffee mug before attempting a sip of hers. She stuck her tongue out. “Ew, not sweet enough.” She dumped another sugar packet in the mug and stirred.
“Is there any coffee in your mug?”
