Reed: In the trash
Rose: What???
Reed: I’m kidding
Reed: It’s in the window in my cabin
Rose: Are roosters your favorite animal or something?
Reed: It was the first one I saw
Reed: Are the raccoons leaving you alone tonight?
Rose: Everything’s quiet so far
Rose: But I left out a bottle of tequila last night, so maybe they’re sleeping it off
Reed: Smart thinking
Reed: Call me if anything like that happens again
Rose: I will, but don’t worry
Rose: I always have cat-Reed to protect me
Reed: I’m sending you a link to 1000 names for cats
Reed: Pick one
17
reed
Work has becomea special form of torture.
It was always something close to it—crowds relying on me to make them happy has never been a winning scenario. But now, being in the coffee shop with Rose leaves me constantly careening toward bad decisions. On any given day, I can’t tell if the urge crawling just beneath my skin is to escape to my cabin in the woods, or to crush her to me and never let her go.
Maybe the only solution is to take her with me into the woods.
Rose and I are working the coffee cart, putting no space between us while we serve drinks at this week’s concert. The orange dress she’s wearing is like sunshine in a bottle. I should shield my eyes and spare myself the pain, but I glory in it anyway. The fabric’s subtle pattern will feature in my dreams tonight.
As much as the crowds drain me, they energize her. She greets customers with never-ending warmth and asks how they’re enjoying their evening. Compares notes on the bands and remarks on the brilliant sunset washing everything in pink and gold. Wishes people well like a benevolent fairy blessing the townsfolk in a children’s story.
Her gaze constantly drifts to me, checking in without saying the words. Teasing me with the curl along her mouth, a sly smilewhose meaning I can’t sort out. Maybe she doesn’t mean anything by it. Maybe I’ve just been obsessed with her mouth since she kissed my cheek the other night.
No. I was obsessed long before then.
Jovie runs up to our booth with Luke ambling along behind her. She’s beaming at Rose, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her wild hair streaming out of her sagging braid. No telling just how many rapid-fire questions she’s about to ask.
Luke casts me a sheepish look. “She wouldn’t let it go. I had to choose between your comfort or mine.”
“Thanks for being so selfless,” I say dryly.
“Hi, Rose.” Jovie leans on the table to rest her chin in one hand, staring at Rose like she’s soaking up the glorious view. Get in line, nugget.
Rose mirrors Jovie’s pose, putting them eye to eye. Something about that small gesture makes my chest ache. “Hi, Jovie. Are you having fun?”
She wrinkles her nose. “I guess. This one’s kind of slow.”
