“She’s trying to be.”
She shrugged, that shy little gesture that made my heart tighten. “I think she’s the kind of girl who gets knocked down a lot but just . . . keeps going.”
“She looks like she could take on the world,” I said, smiling. “Kind of reminds me of someone.”
Her eyes flicked up in surprise. “Of who?”
“You,” I said simply.
Her breath caught, just the softest inhale, and suddenly I was very aware of how close we were sitting. How much I wanted to reach across the table and tuck that loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Instead, I forced myself to stay still.
“So . . . is this for fun?” I asked, gesturing lightly. “Or something else?”
Her fingers traced the edge of the page almost unconsciously. “Something else. Maybe a book. I’m still figuring it out.”
“A book?” My eyebrows shot up. “Wait.. are you writing and illustrating something new?”
She nodded, nervous and excited all at once. “I actually emailed my agent with the idea.”
“That’s amazing.”
I meant it. Every word.
We sat there for a moment, just smiling at each other like absolute idiots.
“How was your day?” she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I’m not going to lie . . . it was rough. Leo outgrew his favorite pants. And I can’t seem to find any seamless pants in his size now. And you know there is no enemy like seams.”
A smile covered her face. “Don’t I know it. Seams are dangerous things in my house, too.”
We chatted as she continued to draw. It was dangerously close to smitten with this woman, but I wasn’t sure of my next move. I hadn’t had any ‘moves’ since Becca . . . and those were really moves. That was more like asking her father for permission. I was thrillingly out of my depth with this woman.
I stood to grab us both a refill, mostly because I needed a second to breathe.
As I approached the counter, Belle raised an eyebrow the second she saw my face.
“Damn,” she whispered. “You’ve got it bad.”
I ignored her.
Or tried to.
I returned to our table with the coffee, and there she was, running her fingers lightly over her sketch, brow furrowed in concentration, lips parted just a little like she was lost in the world she was creating.
It hit me like a punch right in the ribs.
There it is.
That feeling.
Warm.
Terrifying.
Hopeful.
