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“Why do you think I’ve been coming in all week?”
“Because you like sweets?”
“No. It’s you.” My cheeks flushed from the admission. “Everyone in this town knows me, so it’s nice having someone new to talk to, you know?”
Kate managed a small smile and averted her gaze. “I’m not there anymore, but my Mom and I used to live in a tiny spot back in Maryland. It was nice, at first, but like you said, everyone knows everything about everyone else. Needless to say, I was glad when we moved.”
“Bad memories?”
“Rumors, though they haven’t seemed to follow me here.”
What rumors?I wanted to ask but thought better of it. “Well, so long as you’re here, you’ll have a friend in me.”
“I’d like that,” she said while meeting my eyes. “I’d like it very much.”
* * *
My mind was still reeling by the time I reached our haven. Unlike the last few times I’d run home with my tail between my legs, it felt as though I was floating on air.Maybe it was the cookie.
“I did it,” I said as soon as Dustin opened the door. “I finally told her.”
“You did?” Excitement filled his eyes. “What did she say? Does she want to go out?”
“Go out?”Oh god, no.I wasn’t ready for that. “I told her we could be friends.”
“Friends?” His shoulders dropped. “You’ve spent the last week wallowing around the house and you finally got up the nerve to ask her, and you’re just friends?” Dustin walked away, then collapsed on the sofa. “What the hell, Liv? I’ve been covering for you.”
“I know, and I really appreciate it, but I think I’m finally getting somewhere.”
“Because you’re friends.” He didn’t sound convinced.
“And because she made the first move.”
That got his attention!
“Whoa, whoa. Hold up. So you aren’t even the one who did the asking?” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I can’t just walk up to her the way we wolves do. Humans don’t work that way. It takes time.”
“Time that, according to you, you don’t have.”
“That isn’t entirely true.” I paused, then joined him on the sofa. “I don’t know. The way she talked earlier, it’s almost like she wants to stay. Then again, she used to live in a small town herself and hated it, so what do I know?”
“So you’re just what? Hoping she’ll find a reason to stay?”
“I don’t know. Maybe?”
“And I’m guessing that reason would be you.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You were thinking it, though. Tell me something. If you have a thing for this girl–which I’m starting to think you don’t–would you rather put yourself out there or miss out once she goes home? Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
“Like I said, these things can’t be rushed.”
