He keeps me in an embrace and looks down at me, letting out a long breath. “I…I’m trying, Carly. This is hard for me,” he admits in a low voice.
I swallow. Shit. My instincts were right. He’s having cold feet.
“No, I’m not quitting on us. I just…I need some time to adjust my thinking. This”—he motions between us—“is all new to me.”
“OK,” I whisper, trying not to sound upset.
“Let’s get coffee,” he says as he releases me with a final peck on my lips.
I peek in on Ava as we walk to the door. She’s still fast asleep. I swear that kid would sleep through anything. I stick the baby monitor in my pocket, and we head downstairs and across the street. I periodically grab the monitor as we walk.
Bray squeezes my hand. “You are a good mom. She can see you from her window.” He points up at the building.
“I know, but I shouldn’t leave her for long,” I explain.
He nods. “I should have let you stay and just gotten this for us,” he says. “I’m being selfish. I wanted a few extra minutes with you.”
We are the first customers here.
“Hey, you two,” Cam says cheerily as she wipes her hands on her apron. “The usual?”
“Yes, please. And a hot chocolate for the princess,” Bray says as he points toward Ava’s window.
“Of course,” she replies with a laugh.
I’m waiting and staring out the window as Cam tells us about her latest cupcake idea. All of a sudden, Roxy and Gray’s cat, Licorice, sprints out the shop door as Jocelyn opens it. I can see her yell and start running after the cat.
“Oh, no. I think Joc needs help,” I say as I open the door and head toward the park bench.
“You got her?” I call out to Jocelyn.
“Thanks, and no,” Jocelyn replies. “Cliff is out.”
“Oh, shit,” I mutter as the two of us sprint to the bench. We look around for Licorice and then Jocelyn gasps.
“What?” I ask as she points. I follow her finger and put a hand over my mouth.
Licorice is rubbing against Cliff’s back, and they are essentially murmuring to each other in raccoon and cat language.
“Uh, is that like, normal?” I ask.
Jocelyn shrugs. “I have no idea. You know, I just read that raccoons are self-domesticating. You think Cliff is going to try to move into the apartment building?”
I laugh. “Uh, I hope not.”
All of a sudden, Hutch appears from behind us. “Since when did Licorice and Cliff become besties?”
Jocelyn turns to look up at Hutch. “You’re the one with the camera here. Shouldn’t you be able to answer that question?”
“What’s going on?” Bray asks as he walks up to join us. He freezes, and we all watch as Licorice and Cliff cuddle. “That’s…weird,” Bray adds, while handing me a coffee.
“You don’t say,” Jocelyn replies.
“Please tell me Licorice is vaccinated for rabies,” Hutch says.
“Oh, uh, duh. Of course she is,” Jocelyn says. “Roxy took her right before our trip to Italy. Licorice was pissed to be put in her carrier. She may be the worst cat patient ever.”
I snap a photo. “Ava’s never going to believe this.”
