Page 152 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

I smile and continue. "It's one of those places with creaky wooden floors, overstuffed reading chairs, and a cat who firmly believes he owns the business."

Keisha laughs. "I'm sold! What’s a bookstore without a cat?”

Keisha studies me for a moment. "You've made friends." The observation catches me by surprise. I glance down at my mug before answering. "I guess..." A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. "...I have."

She smiles back. "I was hoping you would."

For a little while neither of us says anything. The apartment settles into that comfortable silence only old friends understand

Funny, when I first accepted the temporary position in Frostholm, I'd planned to keep my head down, finish my rotation, and head home.

Funny, when I first came to Frostholm, I'd told myself this was temporary. Finish the rotation. Learn everything I could. Then move on to the next assignment. Somewhere along the way, I'd stopped thinking of this town as somewhere I was working. Without realizing it, I'd started thinking of it as somewhere I belonged.

Keisha studies me for a moment. "Careful."

I smile. "About what?"

"Belonging."

I laugh. Yeah, I know. I still have one more clinical rotation after this."

"Right."

"A few more weeks and I'll be packing everything back into boxes again."

Keisha nods slowly. "But that doesn't stop you from enjoying where you are now."

"No." I glance around my little apartment.

"I suppose it doesn't."

The words sound more certain than I feel.

***

Outside, snow drifts lazily past the living room window. Inside, the only sound is the soft ticking of the kitchen clock.

Keisha studies me over the rim of her mug. "Okay."

I smile. "Okay what?"

"We've talked about the town."

I nod.

"The bakery."

Another nod.

"The bookstore."

"Mmm-hmm."

"The muffins."

I laugh.

"I feel like you're building a case."