He was trying to make it light and playful, but there was a layer of sincerity there too.It made my chest feel too tight and too warm all at once.
“Okay,” I said finally.“But don’t make me late.”
His grin was instant as his shoulders loosened.“Cadence, please.I am never late.”
Bryan quickly led me to his car, opening the passenger door for me, grinning so cutely like an overgrown puppy almost.The inside of his car was warm, smelling faintly of leather and that rich, spicy cologne that was just him.
He turned on the music and took off.Halfway through the drive, one of the songs I’d composed played.He didn’t comment on it.Just drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, humming along like it was the most normal thing in the world.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
The sun was bright as he drove the twenty minutes to the next town.Bryan talked about nothing important.Teachers who annoyed him, Seth’s ridiculous ability to wake up too early and then deciding to text Bryan and wake him up too.Toby had rage-quit a game and Bryan wanted him to shut up about it already and just start playing it again like he always did.Somehow, he made these casual random topics make me feel normal.I was almost sad the ride was over as he pulled into the bakery.
The bakery sat tucked on a quiet corner.The moment we stepped inside, we were wrapped up in the scent of sugar, butter, and heaven.Warm brick walls, gold light, glass cases full of pastries so pretty they bordered on rude.
The woman behind the counter perked up immediately.
“Oh!Back again?”she asked Bryan.
He flashed her a charming smile.“Guilty.And like I said, I brought my girlfriend.The usual.But make it two.”
She grinned as she looked me over, amusement filling her eyes.I shifted closer to Bryan, not liking the attention.She laughed.“She’s as cute as you said.It’ll be ready in a moment.Go sit and someone will bring it out for you.”
Bryan guided me over to a table near the window.Our knees brushed under the table, once, and then again.Both of us pretended not to notice.It really only took a couple of minutes before someone came over with two plates with turkey sandwiches on them.The turkey was so thick I thought I was going to have to unhinge my jaw to bite into it.
And when I tried, I really did think my jaw was going to break.
“So?”he asked, biting into his sandwich.“Worth the trip?”
“It’s really good,” I said.
He gave me a warm smile and murmured, “Good,” almost to himself.Then softer, “I like seeing you eat.”
I blinked.“You know that sounds weird, right?”
He winced.“Yeah, okay, that did come out creepy.”He pushed up his glasses before running his hand through his hair.“Let me try again before you label me as a creep.”
I raised an eyebrow.“I’m listening.”
“I like seeing you take care of yourself,” he said, voice gentler.“It’s...reassuring.After everything that happened—” His jaw tightened.“I’m still a little scarred by the fact you didn’t even have a security system when that break-in happened.That scared the shit out of me when I found out.”
My throat tightened.“I didn’t think about that.”
“I know,” he said quietly.“And I get that.I do.But it still—” He exhaled hard, looking down at his sandwich like it had personally offended him.“It still messed with my head thinking about what you went through.Alone.No alarms.No cameras.Nothing.”
His gaze lifted, meeting mine.I took in a sharp breath at the rawness in his dark brown eyes.They were almost molten, filled with his honesty, worry.Bryan unfiltered.
“So yeah,” he finished softly.“Seeing you eat a real meal?Knowing you’re sitting here safe?It helps.”
Warmth spread through my chest slowly.“Bryan...”
I didn’t even know what I was going to say next.Thank you, maybe, or I’m fine, or I’m trying, but the words got tangled in my throat.
Under the table, his knee brushed mine.Once.Lightly.Like it was accidental.But then he didn’t move it away.
Warmth jumped from my chest straight down to where our legs touched.He shifted just enough to keep the contact, subtle but intentional.His leg was a quiet pressure that told me more than his words ever could.
“I’m not trying to smother you,” he said, eyes flicking down for a second.“I just worry.More than I probably should.”
