"I don't have time."I gestured at the line, but it was smaller than it had been all day.
"I've got this," Jill said firmly.
Morgan gestured for me to use his chair and handed me the box."It feels good to get off my feet."
My stomach growled as I opened the container.It was a club sandwich from the inn."Thank you for this."
Morgan opened another lawn chair and sat next to me.
"You're not hungry?"I asked him between bites.
A smile curled over his face."I ate pastries in between food runs."
"That's not the best energy for heavy lifting."
He shrugged."They were tasty."
I ate a few bites, grateful for the food."Thanks for your help today.”
He nodded."It was fun."
I couldn’t have restocked without him and his brothers volunteering to assist us."Next year, we'll be officially open, and it will be so much easier."
He looked away."Speaking of which, your shop should be done in a couple of weeks.Cooper added another crew for your apartment."
I felt like the world had slowed down, and I scrambled to grasp what this meant."You'll be done ahead of schedule?"
He nodded slowly.
It was great news, but why didn't it feel good?I should be excited that I'd be in my new kitchen sooner than I was anticipating.But at the same time, I wasn't in a rush.I had the town hall's kitchen.I was slowly increasing my catering and online orders.I was in a good place.I liked staying at Morgan's."The apartment will be done at the same time?"
"That's the plan."
My stomach dropped.I'd have to move out.I wasn't sure I could live in the apartment again.But I'd have to.The plan was that I'd live at Morgan's place until the building was renovated.When it was done, there wouldn't be a reason to stay.We hadn't officially moved in together."I can't believe it's happening so soon."
"I'm sure you're happy to be getting back to normal," Morgan said easily.
I should be happy.Instead, I felt a little panicked about staying in the apartment."It will be nice to be in my kitchen.”
"I hope you'll like the new changes."
"I'm sure I will.You spent a lot of time figuring out what would work best for flow."
"If you don't like anything, we could change it."
"I appreciate that."But it wouldn’t be the same.He wouldn't be working in my kitchen all day and then joining me at home.We wouldn't cook dinner together anymore or spend the evening tangled up in each other's arms.We wouldn't share our days with each other.But it was for the best.Tom would come home eventually, and I wasn't ready to tell him about us.Especially when I didn't know where we stood.
Aspen appeared at the table."I couldn't get away from the inn until now.But I wanted to see what you had left over."
I set my carton of food on my seat and stood, accepting her hug over the table."We don't have much left unfortunately."
Aspen grinned, looking down at the few things that were left."That's a good thing.Let me have one of everything."
I grabbed a box and filled it while Jill rang her up.When I handed her the box, she said, "We're going to have a little celebration at the inn's bar tonight.All the shop owners are invited.You should come."
"We'll see.It's been a long day."I'd had to get up extra early to cook everything before the festival started.
Aspen pointed at Morgan."You better make sure she's there.We have to celebrate."
