Stella smiles sympathetically. “Yeah, babes. Go ahead.”
Dropping the garbage bag on the floor, I grab my iced coffee that’s sitting on the windowsill beside Moo and head out the door.
I just need a minute to clear my head. That’s all. Just a second of not seeing everything I’ve worked so hard for in pieces on the floor.
I suck in a deep breath and blow it out.
It’s fine. I got this. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Maybe if I repeat it enough times, I’ll actually start to believe it.
Taking the steps two at a time, I skim my hand down the railing. The second I hit the bottom landing, I shove through the front door with my shoulder—And walk directly into a wall.
A very big, veryhumanwall.
“Ack!” Like it’s happening in slow motion with the slo-mo sound and everything, the lid pops off my iced latte the second I smack into him and the cold coffee I’ve barely had a chance to enjoy explodes everywhere—down my arm, across the chest of my favorite tank top, and all over the front of a very worn, perfectly fitting black leather cut. Stumbling back a step, I grab hold of the door frame to keep from falling on my butt. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t?—”
All the air whooshes out of my lungs when I lift my head to find stormy gray eyes staring down at me.
“Journey.” His name rolls off my lips like a prayer.
His gaze sweeps across my face and I catch a spark of something flash behind his eyes. Something that I can’t comprehend because it looks a lot like desire, but that can’t be right. There’s no way that the man I’ve had a crush on since FOREVER would look at me like that.
And then he blinks, and just like that, the shutters come crashing down.
I really must be losing it.
Shaking my head, I pull my thoughts together. “I’m really sorry about—” I wave my hand at the front of him.
His jaw ticks and he looks down at the front of his cut, which is absolutely, one hundred percent soaked.
Oops.
He drags a hand slowly down the front of the leather, then does it again, like he’s hoping the second time will somehow undo what just happened.
I press my hand over my mouth as heat floods straight up my neck and into my face. “I am so, so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going, and I just—” I glance behind me and gesture helplessly at the door. “I just need some air, and you— is it ruined? Please tell me it’s not ruined.”
One sexy dark brow goes up, and did his lips just twitch? I’m pretty sure they did. Does he think this is funny?
“I can pay for the dry cleaning,” I keep on, because apparently I can’t seem to stop putting my foot in my mouth. “Or—” Do you dry clean leather? “I don’t actually know if you dry clean leather. You probably don’t. Right?” I wave a hand. “You know what? I’ll look it up.”
Jesus. Shut up, June. Stop. Talking.
I blow out a breath, and my shoulders deflate. “I’m really sorry. You came all the way out here to help me, and I dumped my coffee all over you.”
“You done?” he asks, cutting me off.
“Yep. So done.” I lock my lips with an imaginary key and toss it over my shoulder.
“You want to show me what I’m here for?” he chuckles.
“Right.” I nod, feeling heat rush over my cheeks. “This way.”
Could I make any more of a fool of myself?
Shaking it off, I turn around and head back inside. So much for clearing my head.
Journey follows me in and stops just past the threshold. His brows shoot up to the roof when he gets a look at the state of things. “Shit.”
“Yeah.” That’s one way of saying it.
