“Oh, I’m not getting married.” I shuffle the paper and place it in an envelope so I can put it with my other orders before I grab my card machine to be able to take her deposit.
“Well, why not?” She tuts, “The way that man looks at you, I’m shocked he hasn’t tied you down already.”
“Who?Noah?”
“Yes, Noah.”
“We’re just friends,” I correct her.
“Pssh, okay,” she rolls her eyes, “Whatever you say.”
“Ma’am—”
“Betty,” she corrects and slips her card into the machine.
“Really, we’re just friends.”
“If you say so.” She smiles. “Gotta run! I’ll be in touch about the consultation.”
After she’s left, I collapse down onto the stool. I should really clean up that glass, but Noah was right; I did skip lunch and now the smell of the food is making my stomach growl obnoxiously loud.
I already know he’s picked me up a burger fromSo, we’ve got bunsand my mouth damn near waters before I’ve even pulled it from the bag. Just as I do, a note falls out with it.
Cricket,
How many times have I told you not to skip lunch? You get mean when you’re hungry.
The world can thank me later. Eat your burger with exactly three and a half pickles, the perfect pickle patty ratio, as you say.
See you later.
Love, Noah.
I chuckle as I pull out the burger, unwrapping before I peel away the top bun to check. Three and a half pickles on top of an even amount of mustard and ketchup with a single lettuce leaf and one tomato. My exact order.
That man can read me like a book.
If I could trust anyone with this, it would be him.
But it’s that what if…
What if I lose him?
What if I get my heart broken?
What if I fall so deeply in love with him and it all goes to shit?
Chapter Six
“Ijust don’t understand why it isn’t cold, Scotty!” I say to the old man, cringing at the flat beer in front of me, the one next to it not much better. Sidney isn’t here yet, but I was early and since the beer is warm and flat anyway, I figured I’d order her one ahead of time.
“You do an awful lot of complaining for someone who comes in here four times a week.” He grumbles.
“I’m attached,” I huff back.
“Oh, we all know it,” he clucks his tongue against his teeth, “Where is your better half, anyway?”
Better half.Ain’t that the truth.
