“I suspect you feel the same way about law enforcement.” Based on how wary she was of me the day we met, I know it.
“True. Yeah. I guess you’ve shown me the other side of that spectrum, too.”
She bites her lip in a way that draws all my attention and makes me wish I could do the same.
“I’m glad.”
“Me, too.”
We walk on, back toward Jerry’s. I don’t want to say goodbye yet, and it might be too soon, but I’ve been hoping maybe we’d have that talk we’ve been putting off.
“Hey, do you?—”
“Would you want to?—”
We both halt, too polite for people who’ve known each other for months now. At the same time, I know why I’m nervous, and I wonder if it’s the same reason she is.
“Go ahead.” She waves her hand ahead of us like the path is clear for me.
“I was going to ask if you have time to get lunch or coffee before you head back.”
Her smile flashes. “I have a half hour. We could do coffee. I could go for one of May’s lattes about now, for sure.”
The beauty of the small town is we’re less than a five-minute walk to Corner Coffee, and it’s only another five before we’ve ordered, paid, and are seated with our drinks.
“Why am I not surprised you ordered an americano? It’s such a manly drink.” She dips her head to sip her foamy latte.
“Manly? Don’t let Eirinn hear you say that. It’s her drink, too.” I raise a brow at her.
“Ah. Well. I take it back, then. It’s a drink for very serious people.”
I nod sagely. “Exactly. Only the most serious among us, save Dec, who drinks only the frilliest of drinks, and Finn, who will only drink black coffee and nothing else.”
She blinks. “Wow. What about Mac and May? Do you know their coffee orders?”
“Mac’s a black coffee guy most days, but he loves a decent cappuccino. And May’s order’s always changing. I think that comes with the territory, though.”
We glance over at my sister, who’s currently beaming at a customer while they pay her. She’s done an incredible job with this place, and it’s almost time for her seasonal help to come on for the summer. She might not ever get close to admitting it, but I can see the wear and tear on her. She’s tired, but she loves this place too much to admit that only having two part-time helpers isn’t enough.
“That makes sense.”
We watch May for another minute, and eventually, she turns toward us and makes a face that scares both of us away. We chuckle and sip our drinks, and she glances at her watch.
“So, listen. We need to talk about our—our friendship.” Sam stumbles over her words, and pink tinges her cheeks.
“Yes. I’d like that.”
She swallows and squares her shoulders. “Good. So. Um.” She traces the edge of her coffee mug with the tip of her index finger.
I reach out and cover her hand, sliding around until I’m holding hers. “Whatever you want to say, please feel free. You’re safe with me.”
She stills completely, her eyes focused on our hands joined across the small table. When she shifts her gaze to meet mine, my heart kicks like it always does when our eyes connect.
“I think I finally know that. And so I want to know if you’re still interested in something else with me—maybe something more. It’s no problem if…”
Is she saying what I think she is?
“Yes. I am. That hasn’t changed. And I can keep waiting if you need more time. This doesn’t feel like a ticking clock to me.” That’s a lie to a degree, because I feel that clock ticking in my chest, but it’s not counting down until my interest expires. Rather, it’s ticking toward the start of something between us.
