I tore my gaze from his and poured some coffee into a cup, settled into a chair, and sipped my morning elixir. The stiff jolt of bitterness was just what I needed, but I remembered Dylan liked his with cream. “I’m not sure what’s left in the fridge, but I should at least have a little milk if it hasn’texpired.”
“No need. I got used to drinking mine black in the military.” He smiled. “Although, I wouldn’t mind one of your specialty coffees. I thought about it often, but not many grown military men have hazelnut lyingaround.”
“I can’t believe you remember my coffee. I’ve actually improved it.” I hopped up and snagged my secret ingredients, mixed them together, snagged the milk and put it in the microwave, and then dumped it all together and frothed it. “Here you go.” I poured the milky mixture into his coffee and handed him aspoon.
“Thanks.” Dylan sat next to me. After a few sips he lowered his cup to the table. “How have you been,really?”
“Fine. I was busy with Sadie’s wedding last year and helping with the store while she expands two other stores in Eagles Landing and up on the north side ofAtlanta.”
“And school. I heard you completed the first twoyears.”
I didn’t miss the sound of pride in his voice. It felt good. “Who’d you hear that from? Gossip line or sisterline?”
He shifted in his chair. A tell if I ever sawone.
“You used to squirm whenever you didn’t want to share something. Apparently, some habits don’t die, no matter how much the military tried to beat those bad habits out ofyou.”
“You always could read me. Everyone else said they didn’t understand me, but not you. You got me from the moment wemet.”
“Nice deflection, but spill it,” Isaid.
“You’ve got me in some dangerous territory.” He moved but stopped mid-shift. “My only information link to you might be severed if I share mysource.”
“Sadie orZoey?”
He rubbed the top of his head, causing a wave of short hair that puffed back into place withoutissue.
“Aren’t you here to tell me the truth?” I emphasized the wordtruth.
“Yes, but please don’t be mad at her. She only wanted to soften theblow.”
“Zoey, Miss Sugar and Sweet. She’ll do anything to diffuse asituation.”
“I-I—”
“Didn’t tell me. You’re safe.” I enjoyed a few more sips of coffee. It was nice sitting and talking to Dylan, despite the inner voice in my head screaming that I couldn’t open to him. Not when he was only leaving again. At least this time Iknew.
Dylan’s shoulders lowered from his ears, and he sat back in his chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. His dark-socked feet touched the leg of my chair. “So what else have you been up to? I’ll be honest… I thought I was going to have to track you down somewhere backpacking in Europe or ziplining in Costa Rica. I knew you’d always keep your permanent residence here in Magnolia Corners with your sisters, but I thought you’d still see theworld.”
“Nope, stayed right here. Not even a vacation past Atlanta. I guess childhood dreams dwindle when you have bills topay.”
“Not now, though. From what I understand, Ashton Dumont keeps offering to pay all the Dixon sisters’ bills. Even offered to pay for your college,right?”
College. The word flashed in my head until I caught hold of the thought. “Yeah, but…oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. How could I forget?” I bolted from the kitchen table and spotted my laptop on the coffee table. “Why didn’t Zoey wake me up before midnight?” I rushed over and opened my laptop, typed in my username and password to the school registrationsystem.
“What’s wrong? What can I do to help?” Dylan settled by myside.
“I had to register for my classes by midnight last night, but my sister took my laptop as blackmail to make me read yourletters.”
The dancing dot continued swirling around, mocking me. I waited, holding my breath for what felt like a full minute. Finally, the dot stopped, and in bright-red letters it stated,Fall registration isclosed.
