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“Better?” I asked as she wobbled on her feet.

I wanted to step behind her, wrap my arms around her waist, and let her head rest against my shoulder. Poor woman looked like she was dead on her feet.

“Mmhmm,” she mumbled, closing her eyes.

We stood there in silence for a few minutes, just the water running over her hand and my thumb brushing back and forth against her wrist.

“I’m Cody, by the way,” I reminded her.

Her eyes fluttered open, and when she looked up at me, my chest tightened. I was pretty sure it wasn’t the syrup causing the heart attack.

“I’m Tillie,” she replied quietly.

“Tillie? I thought you were Rosie?” I asked, confused.

She forced a smile, which I swear was tinged with sadness. “Rosie was my grandmother. I named the place after her,” she offered.

“I thought you said the other day your name was Rosie?”

She smiled and shook her head, pulling her arm away. “I think this is going to be okay,” she offered.

“I think so, too,” I agreed as I reached to turn off the faucet at the same time she did, our fingers brushing together, sending a zap of something straight to my cock.

I followed her, like a confused puppy, back through the kitchen and back into the diner.

“All good?” the waitress asked as we reappeared.

“As good as new,” she lied, holding up her arm like it was a trophy.

“Well, take this one and be careful,” she instructed, handing her a new cup with the lid firmly secured.

“Yes, Mom,” she sassed back, rolling her eyes before turning to me. “I should let you get back to …” she started.

“It’s all good. Glad I could help,” I said, stuffing my hands in my pockets to stop me from doing something stupid.

We both stood there looking at each other. Neither of us moving. Neither of us saying a word.

A phone rang somewhere behind us, breaking the spell.

“I’ve gotta run. There’s somewhere … ah, somewhere I need to be,” she stumbled.

“No worries.”

“See you next week …”

“Cody,” I reminded her, trying not to be too butthurt that she didn’t remember my name.

She smiled at me, and I already knew I wouldn’t make it another week without seeing her.

“See you next week, Cody,” she started, picking up her coffee.

“See you soon,” I replied.

A moment later, Tillie disappeared into the kitchen and out of sight. I stood at the counter, hoping she’d come back or maybe hoping just for a glimpse. I don’t know what it was about this woman that had me wrapped around her little finger, but it was unmistakable. I was one hundred percent fucked when it came to Tillie.

“You just wanna pay your bill, honey?” the waitress asked. Gone was her beaming smile and friendly energy, replaced by wariness.

“Ah, yeah, sure,” I agreed, pulling my wallet from my pocket.