I changed the subject as our breakfast arrived. Rylin slid the plates onto the table, and I caught the faint hitch in her breath when my fingers brushed hers. Heat flashed between us, but shemasked it fast. Then she collected the empty creamer caddy and turned to leave.
“Rylin.”
She paused and twisted around, looking at me curiously.
“I have a game tomorrow.” My voice was pitched low. “But I’ll see you on Monday.”
She glanced back, eyes wide, then nodded. “Okay.”
There was no hesitation. No doubt. She was beginning to believe. Satisfaction curled in my chest like a heavy bench bar settling on its rack.
Raiden saw it and snorted into his coffee, earning him a scathing look from me. Then I softened my expression once more and focused on Rylin. “You’re on the afternoon shift again?”
She nodded. “A double.”
I clenched my jaw, once again frustrated that she was working herself into an early fucking grave. However, she still wasn’t ready for me to swoop in and take care of her. So, I just smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “See you Monday.”
Her expression blossomed just a hair, betraying her professional mask and telling me she was pleased. But she quickly walled it off again and hurried to another table.
Raiden and I discussed business as we ate, and we slid out of the booth when our plates were clean. Rylin was cashing out at a table near the door, and she looked up as we passed. I wanted to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, or to press my mouth to that pulse fluttering in her throat, but I settled for a soft thank you and the warm brush of my knuckles across her cheek.
Outside, the morning sun blasted off the pavement. Raiden clapped me on the shoulder. “See you at practice.”
I raised my chin in acknowledgment as he jogged to his SUV. I watched him go, then turned east, headed out to 8th Avenue to catch the B train up to my Central Park West apartment, notfar from Lincoln Square. My body ached, and my heart felt like it had been inflated a size too big, so the brisk walk, even in the heat and humidity, was good for me.
Patience was becoming a word I fucking despised.
4
RYLIN
By the time my shift was over, I felt like I was only being held together by stubbornness and caffeine. The dinner rush had finally tapered off, and I’d gotten the chance to wipe down the last table in my section. As I stretched my arm out, I felt someone watching me.
It was a sensation I’d grown used to over the past week because I’d been wrong about Micah forgetting about me.
I glanced over my shoulder and found him leaning against the counter like he was waiting for me.
His arms were crossed, one ankle hooked over the other, his blue eyes locked on me. Just like they were each time he’d stopped into the deli during one of my shifts. Although there had been plenty of times when he’d pitched in to help. I tried not to assume it was for me. He owned the place, after all. He was probably just investing his time and effort into his business.
My stomach flipped, the same way it always did when he was here. Much to my annoyance.
“You look tired.” He pushed away from the counter to walk toward me.
“That’s because I am,” I muttered, moving past him to toss my rag into the bin to be washed. “Busy day.”
“Good shift?”
“Yeah.” He followed me into the break room, where I grabbed my tote from my locker. “You guys need to keep winning. It’s great for tips.”
His deep laugh sent a tingle of awareness down my spine. “I’ll let my coach know to add that into his pep talk before our last preseason game next weekend.”
That earned him an appreciative smile. “Good.”
“I’ll walk you to the station.”
I froze with my fingers on the strap of my bag. “You really don’t have to do that.”
“You can waste time arguing, or we can head out.” His head tilted just slightly, the corner of his kissable mouth lifting in a way that did dangerous things to my heartbeat. “It’s late. Nobody should be walking these streets alone this time of night if they don’t have to.”
