Page 287 of Ruthless Court

He gets up and straightens the collar of my sweater.

I slap his hand away.

“Touch me again and lose it.”

“There he is. I was worried romance had changed you.”

I grab my keys.

Noah calls from the couch.

“Have fun.”

Eli adds, “Ask before kissing the librarian.”

I stop at the door.

Look back.

He lifts both hands.

“Growth. I’m supporting growth.”

I leave before I commit a felony.

Bellwether glows at the end of the block when I arrive.

Warm yellow light fills the windows. Someone has dragged extra chairs between the shelves for the open mic. The orange cat from earlier sleeps beside a stack of mystery novels like it owns the building.

I’m early.

Twelve minutes.

I order coffee anyway.

Then change my mind and wait.

If she wants coffee, we’ll order together.

Seven arrives.

No Hannah.

Seven-oh-two.

Still nothing.

At seven-oh-four, I refuse to check my phone again.

At seven-oh-five, I check it.

No message.

Maybe she changed her mind.

She’s allowed.

That’s the whole point.