“What are your hobbies?” I ask, hoping to distract her.
“I like to read,” she mutters.
I perk up. “Really? Me, too. What do you like to read?”
“Are you going to think I’m cliche if I tell you I read almost exclusively romance?”
“Not at all because I do, too.”
“Are you shitting me right now?” Her voice is dripping in disbelief.
“Nope. Another thing my mom instilled in me is my love of all things romance and love. So what kind of romance are we talking about? Dark? Contemporary? Romantasy? Omegaverse? Historical? Erotica?” Talking books with her would be amazing. We could have our own little spicy book club and reenact the scenes from our favorite books.
Simmer down, Saint.
“I’m partial to dark and contemporary. Mafia romance is a favorite of mine. I swear they put something in those books to make them addictive. I’m into thetaboostuff.”
God, I shouldn’t find this hot, but my mind is running away with ideas. “Are we talking step-siblings? Ex-boyfriend’s dad? Age gap? Have you read the one where two cousins by marriage fall for the same girl and end up in a throuple situation? It was hot as hell.”
Mikey clears her throat and shifts in her seat. “I haven’t read that one, but I’ll be needing the name of it. I love a dad’s best friend even if I can’t relate in the slightest. I don’t think I’d personally be able to date someone that much older than me.”
“How oldareyou?” She’s got to be around my age, right? I assume she is, based on context clues.
“Twenty-six. You?”
Thank god.“Twenty-nine. Almost thirty.”
“Oh? When’s your birthday?”
“Tomorrow…” I wince. Slater never misses an opportunity to make fun of me for dressing up as Cupid on my birthday.
“Tell me you’re joking.” Mikey laughs.
“Nope. Mom went into labor at 7 p.m. on February thirteenth and told the doctors she wouldnotbe having a baby until Valentine’s Day. They thought she was crazy because she was progressing so fast, but she was able to hold off until five past midnight on Valentine’s Day.”
“Well, happy birthday tomorrow, then. Is it weird to have the whole town celebrating on your birthday?”
“At first it was, but they don’t make a big deal out of it. Oh, turn here and follow Main Street down. You can’t miss the café.”
As Main Street comes into view, Mikey gasps. “Wow,” she whispers in awe as she takes in the red, white, and pink decorations lining the street. Underneath the decor, it looks like any other Main Street in a small town with brick facade buildings and signs boasting the shop names.
Heart shaped balloons are strung across the street made of some type of material that makes them last through any season. They change them out just before the festival so everything looks shiny and bright. Every business in Cupid’s Cove has a Valentine’s themed name, and the windows are decorated with more hearts than possible to count.
“Good wow or bad wow?” I know some people can be put off by the way it looks like a craft store hurricane blew through.
“Surprised wow. I thought it would look tacky, like a party store threw up all over, but it’s actually quite charming. Does it look like this all year?”
“Mostly. They go ham on the decorations for the festival and add a bunch, but for the most part it looks like this. You can pull around to the back of the shop.” I direct her around the building, and she parks in my employee spot.
We sit in silence, listening to the rhythmic pattering of the rain hitting the truck. Mikey’s fingers drum on the steering wheel, and I’m trying to think of something to say.
“Well,” she starts, “I’ll give you a call as soon as the part’s in so you can pick it up.”
“I think you should wait for the rain to pass before you try to drive back. The roads are too dangerous in this weather.” I try to keep the panic out of my voice, but it’s still there.
I don’t want her to leave. We’re just getting somewhere, moving forward. I’m finally chipping away at the walls she has up. The thought of her travelling alone through a storm makes me want to lock her in the café until the storm is gone so I’d know she’s safe.
I can’t deny I like the thought of spending my birthday with the woman I’ve been falling for over the past year. I know it’s crazy and too soon, but I can’t help it.
