“I’m okay. I think one of the things I really needed today was to disconnect.”
“Doomscrolling addict?” I asked as we turned and moved around her so I could be the one who was closest to the street.
“Not really.” She shrugged. “I just… I don’t know. Maybe it’s the rain that’s coming that has me in a mood?”
“I don’t know about rain. Sky is still pretty clear,” I argued. She smiled like she thought I was cute.
“You’ll see. Wanna make a bet?” she challenged, and I liked it.
“What kind of bet?” I asked, ready to agree to almost anything.
“If it rains… you owe me… a couple of maple bars and a teriyaki bowl.”
“That mean you want me to take you on a date?” The words slipped past my lips before I could stop them.
“No.” She blushed and made a soft half-snort sound. “You could always deliver it to me.”
“Okay. What if I win? And it doesn’t rain at all this weekend?”
“I’ll take you one.”
“Sounds like a good deal to me.” And I meant it. It was the easiest bet I’d made in my life no matter how this ended.
We walked down Main Street passing by all the shops in a comfortable silence. Close enough that our shoulders and arms brushed occasionally. It was nice. Oddly familiar. I watched as she looked at the heavily decorated window displays and then at me.
“So…” I broke the silence between us.
“So?” She glanced up at me shyly.
“Are you local to Moonlit or?—“
“Born and raised,” she answered. “I’m guessing since you mentioned Pinehaven, you’re kinda local?”
“Yeah.” I nodded and shared, “I was born and raised over in Steele Springs.”
“Oh, that’s a pretty town. You have great cinnamon rolls over at?—“
“Roxie’s,” we both said at the same time and started laughing. Damn, she really did know her way around these mountains.
“So… are you doing the whole speed dating thing tomorrow?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
“Honestly?” I nodded because I felt like I was on pins and needles waiting for an answer.
3.Rosie
“Honestly?” I asked, and he nodded his beautiful light blue almost gray eyes laser-focused on me. With any other guy, I wouldn’t have liked the attention, but with Caleb… it felt different.
Ifelt different around him.
Oddly safe. Seen.
But not in a soley sexual way, though there was no denying he appreciated what he saw as much as I did.
“I’m kinda stuck having to do it.”
“Stuck having to…” He frowned, and I loved the way his face turned pensive before he turned to look at me again. “Why would you do something you don’t want to do?” I laughed because oh boy, that was a loaded question!
“It’s kind of a long story.” I shrugged, not really sure I wanted to get into the nitty gritty with a stranger. Even if he didn’t feel like one.
