Page 117 of Where Roads Lead

Or are you entirely freaked out by what I almost did, the same way I’m freaked out about it?

“I’m good!” Her voice was high-pitched and squeaky. “I’m fine. Totally normal.”

“Normal?”

“Normal as in…uh, not abnormal.”

“Okay?” I gently extracted my hand, using it to tug my neck.

She couldn’t meet my eyes, instead choosing to fidget with her bag as a stiff tension wrapped uncomfortably around us.

But was it because she was horrified by what I’d done…or the opposite?

Normal Elsie was all confidence and bold humor and fiery remarks. I couldn’t imagine her not telling a guy off if he tried to make a move on her that she wasn’t into. I mean, she had no problem telling me off when I was a complete stranger—what would stop her now?

Or maybe I was just one of those asshole guys, trying to pursue a girl who’d given them every signal in the world that she wasn’t interested.

But she hadn’t rejected me, had she?

No, in fact, based on the memory currently burned into my brain, she looked very much like she’d been about to kiss me back.

Which left me with one alternative: she was fumbling around because she was just as thrown off kilter as I was, because, maybe, just possibly, she liked me, too.

I was embarrassed to admit it had been too long for me to remember the signs. I mean, I didn’t want to presume anything, so really the only way to know for sure was to gauge her a little.

“Are you seeing anyone?” I asked, instantly cringing when I realized I sounded like a guy from a nineties sitcom.

She frowned at the question.

“You mean, besides you?”

“Me?” My eyes widened. “Are we—” I stumbled, nearly choking out the words. “I mean, are you seeing me?”

She looked at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was. I certainly didn’t feel the comfortable sense of sanity I usually prided myself on.

“Yeah.” She nodded slowly. “I’m seeing you.”

My heart paused, lips pressed in a thin line as if I could stop myself from saying something stupid before I figured out what the hell was going on.

“I’m also seeing Theo,” she said, casually peering behind me.

“What?” My heart thudded furiously.

“And Mrs. Nelson over there.” She pointed a finger to her left. “And that couple by the window, I don’t know the names, but somehow know that they order oatmeal every morning, and—”

“Elsie,” I stopped her before I lost my mind completely, “what the hell are you talking about?”

“You asked if I could see anyone,” she said. “So I’m telling you who I can see.”

“Dating, Elsie. I meant, are you dating anyone?”

“Oh.” Her face flushed again, this time a deep shade of crimson. “Oh. Oh my God, Will. I thought you were trying to do some type of weird concussion test on me because I just lost my balance.”

I groaned, running a hand over my face.

“And that makes more sense to you than assuming I was asking about your dating life?”

“Yes! Quite frankly, it does, because why would you even ask me that? I see you every day, wouldn’t you know if I had a boyfriend?”