Page 26 of Josephine and Clay

I exhale slowly, forcing the tension out of my shoulders as I step off the curb and head toward the diner.

It’s just conversation. That’s all this is.

A few texts. Some flirting. Something light to fill the space at the end of a long day.

Nothing more; that’s the agreement, that’s the point.

The bell above the door of Spurs Diner jingles as I step inside, and the familiar warmth wraps around me instantly. The place is busy, with half the booths full, low conversation humming under the clink of cutlery and the occasional burst of laughter.

“Josie!” Penny cuts through the noise immediately.

She’s already waving from a booth near the window, bright and impossible to miss.

I slide in across from her, setting my bag down beside me. “You’re early.”

“I’ve been here ten minutes,” she says, like it’s a personal sacrifice. “I almost ordered without you.”

“That would’ve been devastating and completely ruined our weekly routine.”

“I know.” She leans forward, eyes narrowing slightly. “You look tired.”

“I am tired.”

She reaches for her menu, even though I know she’s already decided what she’s getting. “You need fries.”

“That’s not a solution to anything.”

“It’s a solution to most things,” she corrects.

Before I can argue, Jessie appears at our table, pen already poised. “What can I get you, hon?”

“Cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake,” Penny says immediately.

Jessie looks at me. “And you?”

I hesitate for half a second. “Just coffee. And… fries.”

Penny beams like she’s just won.

“Coming right up,” Jessie says, scribbling it down before moving on.

I lean back against the booth, letting myself settle into the rhythm of the place. The diner makes things feel simpler. Like the edges of the day soften a little.

“Okay,” Penny says, folding her arms on the table. “Tell me everything.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“Liar.”

I sigh. “It was a normal day.”

“You’re a veterinarian. Your normal involves bodily fluids and people panicking over goats. I want details.”

I open my mouth to respond, but my phone buzzes. Everything in me stills. I try to ignore it, but can’t. Just in case.

I pull it out, glancing down.

Clay.