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“Well, um, I’ll meet you over at Lilly’s?” I asked.
A few moments passed while Tripp simply stared at me.
“Tripp? Are you okay?”
He took a step back. “Yeah, sorry. I got lost in a thought for a moment. We’ll get this figured out. I promise.”
My stomach dropped at his promise. He was being so kind, and I was so thankful he had forgiven me, although I was sure it wasn’t forgotten.
“Thank you, Tripp. I appreciate you helping me on this.”
With a hard swallow, he replied, “Of course. I’ll see ya at the café in a few minutes.”
My teeth sank into my lip as I reminded myself not to reach up and kiss him. Tripp’s eyes looked so empty. It made me sad because I was positive I’d caused that. I couldn’t help but wonder why he had done a one-eighty. Maybe Waylynn had threatened him. It didn’t really matter. I was just happy he was talking to me.
I gave him a small smile. “Okay. See ya there.”
The moment we walked into Lilly’s, all eyes were on us.
“Oh lawd, let the rumors start flyin’,” I whispered as Tripp took me by the elbow and guided us over to a table.
“Gives them something to talk about tomorrow.”
I chuckled as I slid into a booth in the far back corner of the café. One quick scan of the restaurant, and it was confirmed. We would indeed be the talk of the town by morning.
“Karen’s here,” I whispered.
Tripp rolled his eyes. “I take that back. Gives them something to talk about tonight. She’s already on the gossip text.”
“Gossip text?” I asked.
Leaning in closer, he spoke softly. “There is a group of women who are on a text message chain. It started as a ‘prayer chain.’” He used his fingers to do air quotes around prayer chain. “But in reality, it’s really the modern-day gossip mill.”
“Great,” I huffed as I sat back. “I hope Mallory won’t be upset with us eating dinner here together.”
Tripp’s eye appeared to twitch. “Mallory?”
Nodding, I said, “Yes, your girlfriend.”
When he opened his mouth to respond, I let my heart believe he was about to tell me they weren’t dating. That they were only friends. But I knew better.
“Evening, y’all,” Lilly said with a wide-as-Texas grin. “Fancy seeing y’all two in here together.”
Turning my attention to Lilly, I grinned, but it faded when Tripp spoke.
“We’re only here for business. That’s it.”
I tried not to let those words hit me in the gut like a hard punch. I had made my bed, and now I had to lie in it.
“Business, huh?” Lilly asked with a wink.
“Yes. Business only, Lilly. I’ll take a water and a coffee, please.”
Lilly’s eyes bounced between the two of us. For a brief moment she looked confused. I tried to force a smile and act normal, but the way Tripp was acting bothered me more than it should. It’s true; we were there for business. But the way he stressed it…twice…made me feel like I was doing something wrong.
“What will you have, Harley?”
“Water, please.”
“Y’all want to order some food?”
“No.”
“Yes.” Tripp looked at me confused. I had said no because all I wanted to do in that moment was run from the café and back home to the safety of my house.
“I thought we were having dinner?” he asked.
“Just the drinks for right now, Lilly,” I said.
She nodded and headed away.
“What’s wrong?” Tripp asked.
“Listen, Tripp, if you’re worried about people getting the wrong impression and this getting back to your girlfriend, then maybe we should only talk at your office during office hours.”
“What?” he asked with a stare.
I shook my head and looked down at my nails. For some reason, in that moment, I noticed how much I had let myself go since coming back to Oak Springs. I no longer went and had my nails done. I didn’t even remember the last time I’d worn my hair down…or washed it, for that matter. Okay, not true. I’d washed it two days ago.
Why would Tripp ever want someone like me when he had the perfectly polished Mallory? She owned her own business, was a successful single mom. Beautiful and always dressed to the nines. She was the perfect match for the future mayor of this town.
“Harley? Harley?”
When his hand touched mine I jumped back.
“Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”
I could feel the tears burning at the back of my eyes. Jesus, I’ve turned into a crybaby. “I, um…I just think we should talk at your office.”
“Nonsense. I meet with clients here all the time. I’m not worried what people will say.”
“It didn’t seem like that when Lilly said something. You were very defensive.”
He leaned back in the booth, took off his cowboy hat, and pushed his fingers through his hair. He let out a frustrated sigh as he set the hat down next to him. My stomach pulled with desire and all I could think about were the days my fingers went through his brown hair, giving it a small tug when I needed him to be deeper inside of me.
