“What’s your name?” I asked. Hopefully, the edge of desperation wasn’t as noticeable to her.
She chewed her lip, her brow furrowing. “I’m sorry. I really have to go.”
I swallowed as my heart dropped to my trainers. “Right. Of course.” I let her go and tucked my hands back in my Mac.
She wasn’t interested. A distracted, petty criminal didn’t attract her. There were a thousand reasons this witty woman would tell herself to get away.
“Good luck with the kleptomania,” she said, keeping her voice as friendly as before but already walking backward and away from me.
Forever.
I chuckled once, balling my hands in my pockets, stopping myself from reaching for her and making even more of a fool of myself. I respected a woman’s wish the first time she spoke them.
She backed into a street chalk sign advertising lavender lattes and almost fell over. By the time I took two steps forward, my body reacting on instinct to get to her, she had righted herself and the sign, chuckling nervously and dusting chalk off the sleeve of her jacket.
“Oops. How’d that get there?”
I smiled but couldn’t get the other half of my mouth to lift.
She turned and took three steps away. Her brown waves flowed down her back. Her long legs shapely in tight jeans. I watched her longer than I should for someone who wanted to come off aslessweird. She stopped suddenly, fists balling once before turning back around.
I stepped closer, feeling my eyes widened hopefully.
“But I’m around, at the shop sometimes,” she called a couple of yards away. A passing family crossed in front of her, and she tucked her hair as they shuffled on. “So you know. If you feel like trying your luck again.”
“Right. Brilliant,” I called back.
She ducked her head, smiling. “Okay then. I’ll see you around. Maybe.”
I waved like a big, goofy goober. She disappeared around the corner, glancing back once more with a shy smile. I’m not sure how long I stood there blinking happily in the thin winter air. I didn’t even reach for a cigarette. I’d been meaning to quit anyway. Collette had caught me yesterday when I’d thought I’d been sneaky and made me feel terrible when she started asking all sorts of questions about it. The sun shone a golden hue. The birds chirped giddily. Passing pedestrians chatted happily.
Everything felt brighter and more alive.
Today was a new day. A fresh start. I’d be up here visiting George more. He was absolutely fine. I didn’t need to worry about a thing. The world was a beautiful place. And maybe I’d swing back into town and get that little chick for Charlie and Kate after all.
