AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Liv, I–”
Shit.“There I go running my mouth again. I’m sorry. Forget I ever said anything. It’s just that you’re only here for a short time and–”
“Liv, you didn’t let me finish.”
“Sorry.”
“And stop apologizing. It’s fine, really.”
“It is?”
Kate nodded, then placed her hand on my arm. “I like you, Liv. I have ever since we met.”
“You have?” I must’ve slipped on something, cracked my head, and passed out. Pretty soon, I’d come to with Kate hovering over me in the back of Nora’s shop.
“You acted a bit strange,” Kate said, “but I thought it was cute. You know, in a stumble-over-your-words kind of way. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not, which is why I asked for your advice the other day. But when you agreed to help with the strudel… I don’t know. You feel different than you did before. More confident and truthful.”
Damn.“I wanted to say something, but because you’re only here for a few weeks–”
“You thought I’d be better off not knowing.” There was no mistaking the disappointment in her voice. “I don’t need you to protect me, Liv. I’m a big girl. I can have some fun if I want.”
“Fun?” I wasn’t following.
“I adore this town and its people, but until tonight, no one’s bothered to reach out. I get it. I have bags under my eyes and there are bits of cookie dough and sugar in my hair, but does that really matter?”
“Now that you mention it, you do have a few crumbs–”
“Stop it.” Kate giggled, then playfully punched me in the arm. “You see what I mean? Everyone here is nice enough, but if I show any interest in an event they’re throwing after hours, they treat me like a sheet of glass. I’m nice to look at, but they don’t want to interact with me.”
“I tried fitting in when I was in my teens but quickly realized I’m better off without them.”
“Which is why you hang out with your brother.”
“And you.”Especially you.I chewed my bottom lip and hoped she didn’t notice.
“But not because I’m new.” She managed a small smile, then went quiet again.
“Not anymore.”
“How come?” Her question caught me off guard. “What changed?”
“It’s hard to explain. It’s a feeling I have.”
“A feeling.” She didn’t sound convinced.
“Yeah. It’s a mix between curiosity and excitement.” That was the only way I could put it without telling her about my wolf.
“Mine’s more like anxiety and nervous jitters,” Kate said a second later, “but they’re pretty close.”
“So what do we do now?” I asked as I glanced behind us at the fountain.
“Do you have any change?”
“Uh…” I stood up and fished through my pockets. “Will any of these work?”
Kate took the pennies out of my hand, then threw one into the water. The early evening light shined off the water’s surface, causing the coin to glow on its way down.
“What did you wish for?” I asked when she handed me the few pennies she had left.
“For more time with you.”
