“It’s—” Noah scrubbed a hand through his hair. “It’s been a while.”
“I know.”
“I haven’t felt this spark about someone since?—”
“I know,” she said again, more gently this time.
Noah’s stomach tightened. Although he’d dated occasionally during the two years since Tyler’s exit, none of it ever stuck. He’d convinced himself he was fine. Busy. Content.
Then Eli Winters walked into Home Depot and held his damn hand as though it was nothingandsomething, all at the same time.
“I feel stupid,” Noah said quietly. “It was one weird moment. He’s probably forgotten it already.”
Elsie studied him. “Doyouforget things that matter?”
“No,” Noah admitted.
“So why assume he does?”
Because people leave.
Because he didn’t want something he had no right to expect.
Elsie nudged him. “You signed him up to help with the Festival, right? I mean,Iwould’ve, if it had been me.”
“He’s helping with the lights tomorrow. Aileen roped him into volunteering.”
Nothing ever changed in Mapleford. Aileen had been bossy in high school too.
“Mmm.” Elsie cocked her head. “So you get to spend the whole day with him.”
“I mean—not the whole day?—”
“Don’t be dense. You’re pairing yourselves off the moment he arrives.”
Noah stared into his coffee again. “Do you think I’m reading too much into it?”
Elsie gave him that exasperated look he swore she reserved for shy children and emotionally constipated adults. “Noah, you don’tdocasual attraction. You do capital-M Meaningful. If you’re feeling something, it’s real.”
He swallowed hard.
“And besides,” she continued, “he looked at you like you were a surprise he wasn’t expecting but didn’t hate.”
Noah laughed. “That’s weirdly accurate.”
“It’s my job to observe,” she said smugly. “And also to meddle. Speaking of—lantern workshop. Tonight at six. You in?”
“Of course,” he said. “Kids can’t glue their fingers to jars unsupervised.”
“Exactly.” She sipped her coffee. “Anyway, I’m excited to meet your bakery boy properly.”
Noah choked again. “He’s not my?—”
“Hecouldbe.”
He froze.
Elsie’s voice dropped a little. “Don’t be scared.”
