She was asking him for something within his power to give at a time when all he wanted to do was fulfill her heart’s desires. Maybe it was the cowardly way out. Maybe he should tell her now anyway, despite her simple request. But why shouldn’t he wait? The news would still be there tomorrow. And this way, they could have tonight.
“Of course,” he said. “It’s more than okay.”
29
“Why do I feel like a fish in an aquarium?” Julien leans in and asks over his plate of chicken parmesan. There’s a hint of a smile on his mouth, and I’m glad the undue attention amuses rather than irritates him.
I dab at my lips with my napkin and glance around the restaurant, although it’s more for show than anything. I haven’t missed the way my neighbors have been whispering behind their menus and trying to steal glances at our table. Am I surprised? Only at myself for not anticipating this kind of behavior.
Catching the eye of Sheriff Jacobs, who’s openly staring in our direction, I lift my hand and wiggle my fingers. He dips his chin in acknowledgment at getting caught but doesn’t bother looking elsewhere.
Julien turns to glance over his shoulder at whoever stole my attention. When he rotates back around, his brows are high on his forehead. “That police officer just patted his sidearm.”
I laugh because my town is being ridiculous, and yet I absolutely love them for it too. “Welcome to small-town life.”
“Where everyone knows everyone else’s business?”
I nod. “And likely no one can remember when the last time I went out on a date was, so this right here is some really juicy gossip.”
“I still can’t believe that. I don’t want to disparage the men of Little Creek, but—” He stops himself with a shake of the head. “You know what? Their loss is my gain.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
“It’s the truth.”
Heat is rising to my cheeks, so I take a sip of water. When I lift my eyes, my gaze lands on another couple seated in one of the corner booths. A small gasp escapes my lips.
“What?” Julien twists back around again to try and see whatever caused my reaction. “What is it?”
“The Tasty Tortellini is the hotbed for all the news tonight.” My smile grows as I watch the couple sharing a bench seat with their heads together. “I’m surprised we’re garnering this much attention when we aren’t the only people of interest here right now.”
Julien leans in, his eyes bright. “Who else is here? And why do I feel so invested when I don’t know any of these people?”
That makes me laugh as a comfortable warmth spreads inside me. To look at him, one would think Julien belonged in a high-rise penthouse with ultra-modern styling. Sleek lines and amenities with a city skyline view. But seeing him here, I can picture him grabbing a latte from Cotton-Eyed Cup of Joe in the morning to take along on his commute into the city, a King-published audiobook playing through his car speakers. On the weekends we could take a couple of the horses out for a trail ride, or hike to one of the nearby waterfalls, or even just cuddle up under a warm blanket, relaxing and doing nothing at all but practicing a better work-life balance.
I smile at the mental picture, refusing to acknowledge that if I’m not a Little Creek librarian, then there isn’t a job tying me to the town. I force myself to grin at Julien, who’s looking at me expectantly, ready to immerse himself into some small-town gossip.
“You see that couple cozying up to each other in the booth in the back?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that’s our resident chainsaw sculptor and his fiancée. She’s been gone for a while now doing work as an international travel nurse. No one knew when she was coming home, so the fact she’s back is a big deal. Honestly, I’m kind of surprised there hasn’t been a ticker-tape parade in her honor.”
“Is that a common occurrence here in Little Creek? Throwing small pieces of paper in the air in celebration?”
“Oh, you’d be surprised at some of the things we can come up with.”
“Like what? Give me an example.”
Which quirky tidbit to choose? “Hayley’s trying to convince Evangeline to put her cat on the ballot for mayor next year. Apparently, there’s a precedent, as there’s already been a golden retriever as mayor in another town before.”
Julien laughs. “You think the cat would win?”
“By a landslide.”
He takes a bite of his dinner, and I do the same. The conversation has been flowing ever since he picked me up, and we’ve kind of neglected the food in front of us. I’m relieved. A small part of me was afraid that without the subject of work—which I definitely did not want to talk about today—we wouldn’t have anything to connect us. Thankfully, that isn’t the case.
I am curious as to whatever happened at his office today, but I’m happier knowing that we’re more than just our jobs. That anuscan exist outside of what we do for a living. Especially since whatIdo is very much up in the air right now.
