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“A bit.”
“What was that?”
I shook my head and drank deeply. “I have no idea. But…” I dropped the can on the table. “I’ve been feeling worn out lately.”
Linea leaned in. “Since when? Why are you just telling me?”
“For about a week. It’s nothing. Probably just been working too hard and burning myself out.”
“Ava,” she chided gently, “you do too much. What if you take Monday off and I cover for you? You can rest and—”
“What? No way.” I sat up, and my head spun a little. I gritted my teeth against the sensation. "You can't do three houses all on your own in an eight-hour workday.”
“But—”
“But nothing.” I stood too fast but held my ground. “I'm fine.” Somewhat. "I'll sleep in tomorrow, and I'll be fresh as a daisy by Monday."
Linea offered a reluctant, “Okay.”
We resumed walking when she added, “But if you're the slightest bit dizzy again, you're going home.”
“Agreed.” Just to calm her down. I was fine.
We skirted the market’s exit. “Did we get everything?”
Linea looked through her shopping bag. “We did.”
That settled, we headed out. The open booths gave way to the town’s streets, and soon, we walked toward my dad's grocery store.
“I’d like to say hi to Dad. I might not be able to make it for tomorrow’s dinner.”
“Cool,” Linea said.
My stomach rolled, but I refused to mention it. I couldn't let her work alone on Monday.
To distract myself, I said the first thing that came to mind. Scratch that. The only thing on my mind.
“Did I tell you what Dad said about his friend?”
“Liam?” She grinned, eyes twinkling.
I had brought this upon myself.
“Yes.”
“No, tell me.” Linea scooted closer.
When I learned who he was, I told her that, but nothing more. She didn’t push it, either.
Now, though, it’d been a week. Even though I thought about him daily, I could now speak of him without blushing to my toes.
And I was dying to tell Linea.
“Dad says he was a doctor in New York City. He got fed up with the rat race and decided to come to Hannibal for a quieter life.”
“I would've sworn he worked with a secret service agency.”
“Like a spy, right?”
