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Again, she looks around and lowers her voice to a hiss. “How am I crazy? Isn’t that what people in relationships do?Talk?”
She waits patiently while I prepare her latte. When I slide her order to her, I shrug.
“Yes, but Rowan is... complicated. The situation is sensitive.” I can’t tell her about his issues with his mother.
“Grace,” she groans. “Are you still worried about him being older, so you have to play things cool?” She sits on a stool and pulls her pastry and mug closer.
“No. I’m over that.” Things with Rowan feel so natural I haven’t even thought of our age difference. Besides, he hasn’t brought it up like he used to, so I’m guessing he’s over it, too.
“Then why are you here instead of with him having make-up sex right now?”
My face gets hot, and I glare at her. “Say that a little louder, why don’t you? I don’t think everyone else in here heard you.”
She rolls her eyes.
“Did you come here to bust my chops aboutmyrelationship?” I ask.
“No, I came to check on you because you were so down this morning. I would have called, but I remembered you said you were coming here to ask for an extra shift.” She lifts her tart to take a bite. “I figured I’d consume a ton of calories while I make sure you’re okay.”
Snorting, I eye her with a little jealousy. “What I’d give to have one of those.” I sigh.
“Then have one.”
“I can’t. My sister’s wedding is in a few weeks, and I have to fit into that bridesmaid’s dress.” I still haven’t told Rowan I’ll be going to Colorado.
Thinking about him makes me want to cry... again. My lower lip quivers, and I make a high-pitched squeaky sound.
“Grace, don’t do it,” Ashley says. “Remember, you’re at work. People are watching. You suck those tears back in until your shift ends.”
“I’m trying,” I whine. Taking a deep breath, I choke out, “I’m just afraid I’ve lost him now that I’ve fallen in love with him.”
Ashley gasps and clutches her chest.
I pause. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
She nods. “You didn’t say anything aboutlove. Oh my God. You know how much Ilovelove.”
I look skyward. I never thought I’d find a more hopeless romantic than myself, but here she is, sitting in front of me.
“You have to talk to him, Grace. I bet he loves you, too.”
“Dream on, sister. We haven’t been dating that long.”
“So? Love has no set time frame. You just said you’re in love with him already.”
“Yeah, but Rowan and I are different. He’s... he...”
A man like him, who was skeptical of relationships before me, doesn’t fall in love within weeks. He just started opening up to me.
“He’s what?” Ashley asks.
The café’s doors open, and I pull in a breath when I see who walks in. “He’s here.”
“What?” Ashley’s head swivels around. She gasps. “Oh, my God, that’s him?” Turning back to me, she says, “Grace, that man is gorgeous. He belongs on a canvas.”
Ashely is an artist like me. She appreciates beautiful things... and people. Gawking at a slowly approaching Rowan, I mumble, “I know, right? I have so many sketches of him in my notebooks. Don’t you dare laugh at me.”
She sniggers, but I can’t share in her amusement. I’m too nervous.
