She flattens her left palm over her heart again, and I wonder at the significance of that movement for her. It’s not the first time she’s done it today. Is she self-soothing? Or is it a protective position? Maybe it’s nothing, but I don’t think so.
“Tell you what,” I say after another stretch of silence, careful to keep my voice low and calm. “I’m going to go next door and get my tools. You take your time. If you don’t want my help when I get back, I understand. You can still borrow my tools, and there’s no hard feelings at all. I just want what’s best for you, Holly. Whatever thatis, it’s cool.”
She nods, her hand still on her chest, but she breathes out a soft, “Thanks.”
And that’s good enough for me.
I give her an encouraging smile, taking another step back as I straighten up, and she gives me a weak one in return.
I take that as a good sign, even though I hate how sad she looks as I back out of her shop.
Sad and alone.
Two things I hope to eventually help her with.
If she’ll let me.
A Second Opinion
Holly
Ican’t even with this guy.
Jake backed his way out of my half-empty floral boutique nearly ten minutes ago, and I’m still standing right where he left me, willing my heart to stop telling me things that don’t make any sense.
He’s just so… nice.
No, nice isn’t the right word for him. Nice is what you say about the guy who helps you at the grocery store. It’s what you say about the librarian who holds a book for you, or the person who waves and smiles at you when they stop for you at the crosswalk.
Jake isn’t nice.
He’s so much more than that, which makes him dangerous.
Because what if he turns out to be just like Corey was?
Shoot. I promised myself I wouldn’t give that guy any more headspace, and here I am, thinking his name for the first time in nearly a year.
Jake is nothing like that monster.
I know this intrinsically, but I also don’t trust it.
When you’ve been burned by the wrong guy, it’s hard to know who the right one is. And yet, everything in me says Jake is worth exploring. At the very least, I could have a new friend in town.
Only, I don’t think friendship would cover it all.
Not even close.
“Oh, it’s all a moot point anyway,” I scold myself aloud, finally moving into action. “I’ve got enough on my plate right now.”
I’m definitely not in the market for a new man, even if he did just show up like a gift from the Goddess herself.
Which Jake totally did, and how unfair is that?
I head to the sink and splash water on my face, trying to get myself together. Whatever my body thought was happening with Jake… Well, it cannot happen.
“I won’t let it,” I affirm aloud, as though saying it will make it so.
Ordinarily, that would probably work. Words have Power after all. But Power is directed by intention, and my traitorous brain has other ideas. Which I squash by walking to the front of the shop and flipping the lock.
