AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Just to say something, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
Instantly, I regret those words. It isn’t that I don’t want to see him. I’m just still a little pissed and hurt.
He blows out a breath. “I waited for you, but you didn’t come back to my place. You said you weren’t working this evening.”
“I changed my mind. I can use the extra money.” My gaze slides away from his.
“Or you wanted to avoid me,” he says.
I look around the room at the few customers. This is hardly the place to have this conversation.
It’s clear he realizes this because he blows out a breath. “You’re busy. I’ll wait until your shift ends.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I’ll wait. I need to talk to you.”
Nibbling my lower lip, I nod. “The evening rush hasn’t started yet. Maybe I can take a break.”
My co-worker Brody is on the other side of the room, cleaning off a table. I call to him.
“Do you mind if I take my break now?”
He glances around. “Go ahead. I can handle things for a while.”
“Thanks.” Stepping around the counter, I tell Rowan, “We can go outside.”
When we step through the door, he leads me to his car, parked across the street. Reluctantly, I slide into the passenger’s seat. A small part of me dreads what he wants to talk about.
We fall into the awkward silence again.
“Grace...”
As I watch him struggle to find his next words, a small smile lifts my lips. Rowan has no trouble saying exactly what’s on his mind to others. I know he’s having a hard time because he doesn’t want to say the wrong thing tome. He isn’t accustomed to dealing with these sensitive relationship issues, but he steps out of his shell to meet me halfway. I appreciate it, so I rescue him.
“I didn’t take on an extra shift to avoid you, by the way.”
He turns to me.
“I was trying to give you space.”
“I didn’t need space. Not from you.” He scowls. “You should have come home.”
Does he realize he just implied we live together?
“You promised,” he adds.
“What are you talking about?”
“Remember what I told you about anyone trying to come between us?”
Releasing a breath, I fold my arms and turn to gaze out the window. “I remember. We talk first before losing our minds.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you come home and talk to me? Why didn’t you answer your phone or respond to my texts after your classes?”
Turning to him, I glower. “Because no one else tried to come between us, Rowan. It was you.Youcame between us.”
He blinks, sits back, and stares at me. His mouth opens and closes several times, then he releases a long breath. “I... fuck. You’re right.”
