I feel it deep in my soul.
She’s forever.
When the alarm on my phone sounds, I almost shut it off. I’m too comfortable, too tired, but that’s not fair to my teammates at the station. So, I reach over and tap my screen, silencing thenoise. Lizzie wiggles in my arms, snuggling closer. Her warm, naked skin is too tempting, but I can’t stay.
Not this morning, anyway.
Pressing my lips to her forehead, I slowly coax her to her back and extract my arm from beneath her body. Fortunately, she doesn’t wake. Instead, she rolls over onto her side and buries her face in the pillow. With a little mumble, she drifts back to sleep.
I move to the bathroom and grab my clothes. Even though I should dress in the living room and take off so I’m quieter, I return to her bedroom. With my eyes locked on her sleeping form, I dress in last night’s clothes. Finally, when I have nothing left to do but put my shoes on, I move to where she lies and lightly brush my lips across hers. “Goodbye, Lizzie.”
“Bye,” she mumbles, turning onto her stomach.
I stand here for a minute, watching her sleep and repeating those three words just said. I’ve never heard anything sweeter, and I know what I have to do.
Taking a step back, and then another, I keep moving until I’m exiting her bedroom. I put on my boots and make sure I have my wallet before leaving her apartment, checking to make sure it’s locked, and heading down the stairs. I want nothing more than to just go back up and be with her, but that can’t happen. Not today.
I have a job to do.
My feelings for Lizzie will have to wait.
For now.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Lizzie
What a week!
Ever since last Saturday night’s band, we’ve been busier. The after-work crowd is growing, and the regulars have noticed. They’ve been making daily comments about the uptick in traffic, telling me it’s because Cade danced on the bar.
Lord, I hope not, because I don’t want to seem like I’m recreating or copying my dad’s business.
Collin had worked Sunday through Tuesday, and while I got to see him a bit Tuesday night, I’ve barely seen him since. He was supposed to work Thursday but ended up sick. He was going to power through, but his stomach wasn’t having it. So, I covered his shift, which did not make him happy because I worked that afternoon too. But I don’t mind. It’s my business, and my responsibility to step in and fill the gaps when needed. Was I exhausted at the end of the day? Sure, but nothing too terrible. If anything, it didn’t give me an opportunity to help Collin when he was under the weather. I did leave a care package on is front porch on Friday morning, and we’ve texted a lot throughout the week, but I haven’t been able to see him, throw my arms aroundhis neck, and kiss him the way I wanted to. He was adamant about me not coming over until he was better. The last thing he wants is for me to get sick, especially when I have a business to run.
Things have been…good.
So good, really, despite not physically seeing him much this week.
Our conversations are deeper, more meaningful, and it feels like we’ve taken a giant step over that little line we drew in the sand all those weeks ago. I still recall him telling me he loved me when he thought I was sleeping last weekend. And I was sleeping, but not deep enough that I couldn’t hear him. Or remember. Neither of us have brought it up, nor has he said it again, so that makes me wonder if he really did mean to say it. I mean, I was asleep. I very easily could have dreamed his words, but I truly don’t believe I did. It was so clear, so real.
Tonight is paint night, and Jani is working behind the bar, but I’ll be there to help her. My focus will be on making sure the attendees are taken care of and having fun and the food is restocked. Keeping busy will definitely help me not think about Collin or the fact he left for work this morning, finally feeling better, and I won’t be able to see him again until Monday. Almost a week after the last time I laid eyes on him.
So, yeah. It’s been a long week.
I have the food set up on the table and made sure to make plenty again for the regulars. This time, I didn’t have to do any desserts, because Aunt Lyndee insisted on sending them. She was supposed to come tonight, but she and Aunt Madelyn both had something come up. And BJ is working tonight, so it’s just Mom and Em coming over.
The good news is, earlier in the week, I posted about the three cancellations and someone came in within a few minutesof the social media post and filled the spots. So, once again, I’ll have a full class this evening, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Mom and Em arrive first, carrying in boxes of sweet treats. “You better take these before I eat them all,” my sister announces as soon as she steps inside the bar.
“Hey! Little Lizard!” The regulars have taken to my sister as quickly and easily as they did me, and I can’t help but smile at their reaction to seeing her.
“Friends!” Em replies, walking over to where they sit and offering high fives as she passes. “I brought amazing, yummy desserts from my aunt Lyndee’s bakery. Come over and get some before the good stuff is gone.”
Because they were instructed by the mini-me, all four of them get up off their stools and follow her to the table. First they help her unload, then snatch a few treats from the boxes.
