“Did you survive the weekend?”
“Barely. You?”
“Same.” She takes a sip. “I deep cleaned the entire shop. Mom’s going to come back from Florida and not recognize the place.”
“When does she get back?”
“April. A few weeks.” Delilah’s expression shifts. “She’s going to have opinions about...everything.”
“Including me being in town?”
“Includingthat.”
I want to ask what those opinions might be. I want to ask a lot of things. But Ellen is edging closer, and Grandma Hensley is practically vibrating with matchmaking energy, and this doesn’t feel like the time or place.
“Book club’s Tuesday, Miss Delilah!” Ellen calls out. “You’re coming, right?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Cool. You can tell everyone about how you spilled coffee on the rock star.” Ellen grins. “It’s gonna be legendary.”
“Ellen.” Hazel’s voice has reached maximum mom exhaustion. “We talked about giving people privacy.”
“But this is way more interesting than privacy!”
Delilah finishes her chai faster than is probably advisable. “I really do need to go. Thank you for the coffee.”
“Thank you for the shower.”
She almost smiles. Almost. “I am sorry about that.”
“I know.”
She gathers her things and heads for the door. I watch her go, because apparently I have no self-control whatsoever.
Just before she pushes through, she glances back. Our eyes meet.
And then she’s gone, the bell chiming behind her.
“Dude.” Ellen has materialized at my elbow. “You’ve got it so bad.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re literally still staring at the door.” She shakes her head with exaggerated pity. “That’s, like, peak down bad behavior.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Nope.” She slides back into the booth across from me, apparently settling in for the long haul. “So. That’s the girl, huh? The one you need to fall in love with to find your muse?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“There you go with ‘complicated’ again.” Ellen props her chin on her hands. “What’s the deal? Did you guys used to date?”
“Something like that.”
“Did she break your heart?”
I don’t answer.
