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I realize she is the only person aside from Chasen who is not looking at me sideways. The rest of the patrons stare at me with Chasen wide-eyed, recognizing me only as someone they don’t recognize.
Wondering why I’m with him, maybe? Yup.
“Hazel, this is Miss Hattie.”
“Hi,” I say shyly.
“Now I know what you’re used to, baby, but give me a chance, a’right? We gon’ get some real good food in your belly this morn’.” She even pats me there, making me giggle as she wiggles back out of the seat.
Who I am and why I’m here is kind of hush-hush, so it says a lot about Miss Hattie that she’s been told about me.
“I’ll have the same,” Chasen says, looking cheeky.
“I gotchu baby,” Hattie winks.
Chasen’s dark denim gaze drifts to mine as Hattie saunters away, and those eyes linger, miring me in unholy awareness. My fingertips are charged and tickly and butterflies’ wings flap spastically in my stomach. It makes a hungry sound.
Not necessarily for Hattie’s cooking, either.
Coffees are brought over to us by another waitress. She’s younger, pretty. I can’t help but notice the way she looks at Chasen. The way every woman looks at Chasen.
Like I look at him.
Oddly enough his gaze is on only me. Like he doesn’t even see anyone else. That should lift me but instead I worry it’s too good to be true. I like his attention. I don’t want to lose it.
Even as we casually chat, an insecurity I’m not used to feeling rears its ugly head. I bet he misses Rosemary, a lot. He says they’re just friends but can a guy and girl really be just friends? It seems like fate already stepped in long ago and said that man was meant for that girl, not me. Not in this life.
“You’re overthinking something, Hazel,” Chasen guesses, tossing a wily smirk over the top of his coffee mug.
“Why do you reckon that?”
“You do this thing with your lips. Working them out with your fingertips.”
Shit, I do do that. “That’s…fairly observant.” I drop my hand into my lap.
“Hellooo Chasen, fancy seeing you here! And you brought a friend!”
I don’t even need an introduction as I look up at the elderly woman’s face. She’s tucking her tongue in her cheek, failing to stifle her puckish grin.
A Queen Bee.
“Hi, Dottie. Yes, this is my new friend, Hazel. Hazel, meet Dottie.” He slides me a look.
“Hello.” I smile.
Dottie’s blue eyes sparkle with mischief. “Only friends, hmm?”
“Yes, Dottie. Just a friend.” His eyes seem to communicate directly with mine. Be super sweet. Lay it on thick.
“It is very nice meeting you, Dottie,” I say, saccharine.
“You too, hun…” Dottie’s voice trails as she slowly turns her back on us. Surely plotting how she will deliver this discovery to the rest of the hive.
“There’s really nothing going on with you and Rosemary? Like, ever?” I furtively ask. Too compelled not to ask.
“Not even a little bit,” Chasen replies, a chortle billowing out of his chest. “Rosie’s my friend. Hell, she is like a sister to me.”
A sister? Oh good. That doesn’t make this little crush I have on him weirder. At all.
