His posture changed just slightly.His expression tightened just a fraction before smoothing out again.“The guy you’re dating?”he asked.
“I wouldn’t say dating,” I said.“We’re just going on dates.”
He nodded once.
Like he filed that away.
“Right,” he said.
Silence settled between us for a second.
Heavy.
Charged.
I glanced at the clock.“Are you ordering something?”I asked.
“I was gonna cash in on one of my milkshakes,” he said.
“We’re closed,” I said quietly.
He nodded once, then turned and headed for the door.
Relief and disappointment hit me at the same time.
He didn’t say goodbye.
He just walked.
And I told myself that was good.
That was easier.
That was safer.
He reached the door and didn’t open it.Instead, he flipped the lock and turned the sign to “Closed.”
“Uh…” I started.
He looked back at me.“I’ll help you close and make sure you get home.”
I tipped my head.“You don’t need to do that.”
“You shouldn’t be here by yourself, Ever,” he said.
I sighed.“We already went over this.”
He didn’t argue or listen.He just moved and grabbed my rag to start wiping tables.I watched him and tried to figure out just what in the world was going on.I finally gave up and moved to the sink to finish the dishes.
While I rinsed the last of the dishes, the water swirled down the drain as my thoughts did the same.
When I walked back out front, he was leaning on the broom, watching me.
“Done?”he asked.
“Yeah.”
I hesitated.Then blurted, “Why are you here?”
