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“And you said thanks…”

“Why would he just throw that at me over the phone?” I said. I put my hands on my cheeks. “Oh God. That was so awkward.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“Do I what?”

“Love him?”

“I don’t know! It’s only been four months.”

“Girl…”

I grimaced. “Ugh. What should I do?”

“Call him back?”

“And say what? I don’t want to tell him that—”

“Then tell him why you don’t want to tell him that.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

It’s not that I didn’t love him. I think I did? Or I was on my way to loving him, I just wasn’t all the way there yet. And I wasn’t going to say it if I didn’t mean it.

I felt instantly drained. Why on the phone while I was at work? I blew a breath out and went back to my shakers, cringing over it.

“A long car ride with Chris, huh?” Lexi said, adding Stevia to the caddies. “So what does he look like with his shirt off? Describe it to me like I’m blind.”

“Oh, stop,” I muttered.

“That man’s body looks better every time I see him. Has he been working out with Mike?”

“Yeah, they hang out a lot. No, I still don’t want to smash.”

A text came through. I had a small moment of panic thinking it was Mike. I pulled my phone out and practically slumped from relief.

Chris: Woofarine tried to drag a possum through the back door. It was playing dead.

I called him.

“Where did he find a possum?” I said instead of hello. “You have possums in your yard?”

“Apparently. It was bigger than he was and terrified.”

“Oh my God, I’m laughing by the dish pit.”

He chuckled.

“Hiiii, Chris,” Lexi called. Then she gave me a look I chose to ignore and carried her sugar caddy tray back out front.

I leaned on the counter. “Lexi says hi. So, Mike says you’re driving me to the cabin?”

“Yeah. I have to work until the last minute.”

I nodded like he could see me.

“Am I taking Woofarine today?” I asked.