“Uh-huh.”
I grunted. The less I said about Lola, the better.
“She’s nice, the doctor,” Ashley said. “It’s funny, though. Everyone sure was convinced you were sweet on Ruth Wilks for a while there.”
My hand froze midair before I could grab the bag of groceries. People speculated too much about Ruth. About me. We were no one’s business. If everyone had stopped sticking their noses into our lives, maybe Ruth would still come to town.
I jerked my chin down in a nod goodbye to Ashley. I needed to get out of there before I said something I’d regret. The bell jingled as I barged through the door, but for once, I didn’t notice.
My boots nailed to the path outside.
Lola.
The sight of her gripped around my chest and dragged me closer. Fear didn’t slow my steps. The only place I needed to be was beside her, holding open the post office door so she didn’t have to shoulder her way out under a mountain of boxes and bags.
I could carry her packages. Maybe I’d sneak a touch on the sleeve of the pink cardigan she’d thrown over that loose black sack she always wore and ask about her day…
“What the bloody hell is wrong with me?” I muttered.
Relationships? Not on my to-do list. But my vow to spend my life alone didn’t stop me from walking in the opposite direction from where I’d parked my truck.
If Lola heard me coming, she didn’t show it, and there was no way she’d see a thing over the haphazard tower of packages in her arms. She also didn’t notice the gap in the worn stone pavers. She wobbled from foot to foot along the path until the toe of her shoe caught. Parcels hurtled through the air. I dropped my groceries and lunged forward, catching her just before she hit the ground.
Her fingers clung to my side, and, shaky, a little uncertain, she lifted her chin and pushed her glasses up her nose.
“Oops,” she whispered.
My heart pounded too fast in my chest—another one of those panic attacks, but good.
“Oops,” I whispered back.
No idea why. My smile was unexpected, too.
Lola untangled herself with a guilty smile. The scent of coconut shampoo clung to her, reminding me of beach holidays I never take anymore. I wanted to pull her back and trap all her sweetness. Instead, I stuffed my hands into my pockets. Nervous? Nah…
“Been doing some online shopping?” I asked.
“Um…” She nibbled on her lip. “No…”
I cocked my head. She was even worse at lying than I was.
“Okay… Yes!” A dizzy smile burst across her face. “I got my first pay! I needed a few things for my cottage.” Hands flying to her cheeks, she blinked down at the explosion of packages scattered outside the post office. “I guess I got a bit carried away.”
“A bit, huh?”
“Ateensybit.” She laughed, and it was just about the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. “I bought cooking utensils, candles, fluffy towels, and fancy pink sheets that aren’t scratchy. Oh! New clothes and a pair of shoes.” Her eyes sparkled. I’m not exaggerating.Sparkled. “And it was all brand-new! I didn’t even have to wait for anything to be on sale!”
Lola darted around picking up her boxes, smiling like it was Christmas morning. And somehow, it didn’t feel right. The emotion was too raw. Toonew. I ignored the knot twisting in my gut. The sun was dying over the horizon, and when night closed in, I hovered at the edge. I was overthinking it…
I crouched down to help her, holding up a white box marked with the logo of one of the big bookstores. “And this?”
Lola took the package from me and hugged it against her chest. “I love reading,” she said.
Me too.
I ached to tell her I loved books and cooking, just like she did. I wanted to sniff her smelly candles and wash her fluffy towels. I didn’t give a damn if her sheets were pink or if they itched worse than the woollen jumpers my Nan had knitted for me. I wanted to cuddle Lola on her sheets all night.
But I didn’t say a word.
