“So…he has?”
“I don’t want you hurtin’ more than you already are.”
My breath whooshes out as a pained“Oh”as my shoulders curl over.
That’s ayes.
I press my palm into my chest. This time my heart’s not steady. Thumps pound under my ribs. How many times has Luke talked about me behind my back? Has he dragged my name through the mud with…everyone? Did he score me lower than a zero? Did he laugh when he did?
“Elsie…”
Sawyer pries the mug from my hand, and the porcelain clatters onto the countertop. The only thing I see is a wall of blue flannel. He edges closer.
“I shouldn’t be runnin’ my mouth,” he says. “I’m sorry.”
“Please. Don’t be.” None of this horrible situation is his fault.
“If you need to have a good cry, you go right ahead.” He pats the perfect spot on his chest for me to nuzzle my head, but I’m locked in, frozen to the spot. “I don’t have any tissues, but…”
“I’m…” I drag in a shaky breath. “I’m okay.” I even manage to force a smile.
“You two aren’t serious, then?”
“We’re…”
Nothing.
Luke didn’t promise me anything…and that’s precisely what I got. No loyalty. Not even a half-hearted defense when an over-primped real estate agent with lofty opinions of herself launched for my jugular.
But the whole point of a no-strings-attached arrangement isnotgetting hurt. I didn’t sign up for another heartbreak. I signed up for easy. There’s nothing fun about what happened when I arrived at the wharf, and Sawyer being pulled into this mess only makes me feel worse.
“We aren’t anything.” I sigh. “You probably think I’m stupid.”
“Nope.”
“But maybe…a bit…weird?”
Sawyer cocks his head. “Weird?”
“Awkward.”
His gaze flicks to the ceiling as he thinks over an answer. “Qu—”
“Please don’t sayquirky.”
“Quiet. Thoughtful. There’s nothin’ wrong with bein’ a little shy.”
“You’re not shy.”
“No.”
“But you don’t say much.”
“I s’pose not. Is this your roundabout way of tellin’ meI’mweird?”
I snort a laugh. “No.”
“But maybe a bit awkward?”
