Page 100 of Sparks Fly

Addison: Tempting. But my assistant might judge us.

Me: Worth it.

The typing dots blinked again before another message appeared.

Addison: I miss you.

I stared at the screen for a moment before answering.

Me: I know. Me too.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and stayed there for a second, letting the feeling settle in my chest. Missing someone on a Monday afternoon was new territory. It did not feel bad. It just felt new.

Soren called later, right as I was locking up the shop.

“Hey,” I said, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I turned the key.

“There you are,” she said. “Hollis was about to send out a search party.”

I laughed. “For what?”

“You disappeared all weekend, and we haven’t seen you since Friday.”

“I was gone for two days.”

“Exactly. Highly suspicious behavior from the woman who lives directly above us.”

I smiled as I headed toward my bike. “I went out of town.”

There was a beat. “With Addison?”

“Maybe.”

Soren laughed softly. “Oh, definitely with Addison.”

“Don’t start.”

“I’m not starting anything. I’m checking on you.” She paused. “You sound happy.”

I looked down at the pavement beside my bike, my smile coming before I could stop it. “I am.”

“Good,” she said, and there was something warm in her voice. “That’s all I wanted to know.”

“Tell Hollis she can call off the search party.”

“I’ll consider it.”

* * *

By the time I headed toward Blake’s bar, the day had settled into something manageable. The place was already buzzing when I walked in, fried food and citrus hanging in the air while low conversation filled the room.

“There she is,” Blake said, nodding toward the booth in the corner.

Nina lifted her glass when she saw me.

I slid in beside her and stole a sip before she could stop me. “Cabernet? On a Monday?”

“It’s been a day,” Nina muttered. “My client accused me of tax shaming him.”