I’m already heading to my bedroom peeling off my sleep pants and tank as I go. No need for modesty when you don’t have any neighbours.
“I can meet you outside the gallery in about an hour or I can pick you up at your place on my way.”
“I’ll meet you at the gallery. I don’t mind walking an extra few blocks.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”
An hour later, I meet Megan in front of the gallery. She’s sitting on the bench reading on her Kindle. After greeting each other with a quick hug, we walk together down the main street towards the market. Shop owners have already started decorating their stoops with pumpkins and corn stalks. I love it.
It’s a warm, sunny day and the market is packed. Couples are out walking hand in hand, parents are pushing babies and toddlers in strollers while simultaneously keeping an eye on their older children who are playing at the playground found just beyond the vendors. I don’t see any sign of Claire and Benyet. I can smell the hint of citrus and spice from a booth selling homemade candles.
“How are you doing?” Meg asks, holding up a candle to smell before putting it down and selecting another.
I don’t need to ask what she means.
“Okay, I guess. I don’t know. Shocked. Confused. I have a lot of conflicting feelings,” I tell her.
She holds out a southern peach candle for me to smell. Oh, I like that one. We pause so I can buy it, and Meg chooses a strawberry cheesecake scented single wick for herself.
When we continue walking, she asks, “Have you thought more about talking to him?”
“Not really. I saw him at Maggie’s yesterday,” I confess as we stop for a moment and listen to a young man playing Every Breath You Take on guitar. He’s really good. After dropping a couple of toonies into his case, we continue to wander through the crowd.
“That’s not surprising, she has the best coffee in town. Was it weird to see him there?”
“Yeah. He’s changed so much, but I still see the boy I grew up with.” I’m just about to tell her about the necklace/bracelet when she stops me with one sentence.
“Don’t look now but there he is.”
Of course he is. I steel myself and look in the direction Meg is nodding. Logan is talking to a man who’s selling homemade bread, while Morgan sit’s patiently by his side people watching. When he sees us, he begins to wag his tail and wiggle his bum. Fuck he’s cute. When I start to turn and walk the other way, Megan reaches for my hand to stop me.
“You are going to be running into him a lot in a town this size, so you may as well get some practice while you’ve got me here as a buffer.”
“Hard pass.” I pull away so I can flee undetected.
“Too late. He’s already seen us,” she giggles nudging my shoulder with her own.
“There is absolutely nothing funny about this,” I mumble.
I momentarily consider hiding in the linen dresses hanging in the booth beside me but reluctantly choose to act like an adult instead.
“Mmmhmm.” She looks towards the ground, trying to hide her smile.
I glance back and see Logan smirking as he gives his excited dog a rub on the head before walking towards us. He looks effortlessly handsome in blue jeans that hug the muscles of his thighs, a tight grey T-shirt, and black-and-white checked Vans. He moves with confidence as he casually walks towards us greeting people with a few words and a smile as the distance between us dissipates. Meanwhile, my stomach is in knots, and my heart is racing.
How does this man affect me so much after all this time?
“You’re fine,” Megan says under her breath as she smiles at Logan as he approaches.
“Morgan likes you.” Logan grins as his eyes reach mine.
“Good morning, Meg. It’s nice to see you again,” he says, smiling at my friend. “How have you been?”
“You too, Logan. I’m well, thank you. Are you here to do some shopping?” I admire how unbothered she is by him. I feel like a complete wreck.
“Nothing specific, I just wanted to go for a walk with Morgan, and this is where we ended up.” He smiles down at his furry friend then back at us.
That smile is panty melting.
