“So, does that mean you like music or vegetables?” His brows pinch together with confusion, so I point at his shirt, reminding him of what he’s wearing.
Glancing down, his dirty blonde hair falls forward, covering the sides of his face as he pulls his shirt down to read it. His lip turns up for a brief moment before he says, “Both, actually.”
His smile is shy and endearing, but he exudes a confidence that I admire. He’s probably in his late twenties and if I had to guess he surfs in his spare time. Not only by the look of his lean, tight body, but his beachy hair and slight golden hue to his skin.
I bite the inside of my cheek, recognizing my awkwardness, unsure of what to say next. This gorgeous man just kissed me and spared me from having to deal with Sam. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. He’s never acted so aggressively before.Even when I found him with one of my best friends—ex-best friend—he didn’t get that way.
“So, hey, I’m not in trouble or anything. That was my cheating ex and he’s never acted like that before. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.” I tell him exactly what I was thinking, because I feel like I need to explain myself.
“You shouldn’t make excuses for him.” He starts unloading the crate that he must have carried in here before seeing Sam and I.
It’s full of small pumpkins and my cheeks flush recalling the use of the nickname.
“I’m not…I just don’t want you to think I’mthatgirl.”
“Sounds like you left him after you saw him with another woman and now he wants you back. Looks to me like you’re smart, beautiful, and deeply desired.” He glances over at me, his gaze eating me up as he gives me a beaming smile. He’s not stunted at all by his flaming hot compliment, but I’m on fire.
Clearly, I need praise more than I realized since my last relationship was completely void of it.
“Well…” I pat the front of my jeans, like I’m looking for something, feeling around my round curvy hips and suddenly I’m feeling a bit self-conscious. “I should probably go.”
He gives me a long, languid nod.
I want him to ask me for my number but just one short month ago I swore off men for life, so that part of me hopes he doesn’t.
When he doesn’t say anything more, I realize he only kissed me to help me and not because he wanted to and now I’m just embarrassed and need to exit this claustrophobic canopy stat.
“Thanks again for your help earlier.” I step toward him quickly and wrap my arms around his waist in a friendly embrace because I’m a hugger, and he is too, by the way he naturally wraps his arms around me and squeezes me back.
“Steer clear of that guy, okay?” he utters out loud, but not directly at me. Like he doesn’t want to boss me around but he wants to make sure I know he cares.
I give him a soft nod and a stiff smile as I step out of his space. I take a few backward steps and turn around. After one small step, he calls out, “I’m here all day; you could come back whenever, you know.”
I stop and glance over my shoulder and his wide smile is contagious so I call back, “I think I might have to.”
With a little more pep in my step, I walk in the opposite direction that Sam went and head to the front of the market where I like to place myself to collect donations.
My phone pings with a text notification. Pulling it from my back pocket, I glance at the pop up and see “Cheating Bastard” pop up. I changed his name in my contacts so I keep that fact at the forefront of my thoughts when talking to him, although I should just block him.
Cheating Bastard: Who is that Thor wannabe? Seriously, call me Abby. We need to talk.
It’s been an eventful morning and I’ve received well over twenty donations for the fire station charity drop off in a couple weeks. I finish collecting all the items and load them into my car.
Closing the trunk, I stop and glance back at the canopies that line the market. Some of which have been taken down and are packing up, and a few others still selling the last of their products.
Fortunately, Sam never came back, and I feel the need to go thank the gorgeous man who helped me. Who am I kidding? I’m making every excuse to see him.
I mean, he did invite me back, right?
Okay, I’m going.
I take a step in that direction, then swivel around back toward my car.
My heart beats out of my chest as I try to talk myself into going back.
It was just a kiss, and you should thank him…again. It’s easy, just go.
I swiftly turn around again and tilt up my chin. It’s friendly and doesn’t need to be anymore than that.
