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“Hey, I’ve got you covered.” He raises his voice, and a few seconds later, I realize he was cueing someone from the back. “Reg will lock up.”
I want to protest when Jack grabs his bag and Reggie nears us. Her smile is small and almost smug as is Jack’s. They’re both proud to have pulled one over on me.
Shrugging, I get up. “You know what, let’s do it.”
Although I don’t want to say it out loud, make it more real than it already is, I am resigned to the fact that no matter how good I am at my job, I will likely lose Winslow Grove’s librarian position.
Maybe she sees something on my face, or perhaps just because she’s got that motherly instinct, Reggie pulls me in for a quick hug. “You kids go have fun.”
Jack chuckles and pulls the door open, waiting for me to catch up. We walk shoulder to shoulder down the sidewalk toward Beyond the Cake. The small bakery has about a dozen small bistro tables for people to sit, sip a coffee, and eat a slice of cake or pie or whatever their sweet tooth craves.
I try to ignore the people stopping in their tracks to sneer at us, and Jack does a good job of not letting on that he’s noticed. There’s no way he hasn’t.
Just outside the bakery, from behind us, someone calls my name and I glance over my shoulder. Oliver jogs to catch up to us, face splitting into a smile.
His smile alone does something, melts away some of the tension and horror of the past twenty-four hours. He holds out his arm for a hug, and without any regard for being in public or anything else, I throw my arms around his neck.
The feel of him, strong and warm and solid against me, is electrifying. Both soothing and exciting and just what I need. My body melts into him as if he can take the weight of not only me, but everything else that’s gone wrong. Erase everything so all that’s left is a clean slate.
“I just missed you at the library.” He releases me with a kiss on my cheek.
An older woman skirts around us on the sidewalk and makes a point of glaring back at me, tsking.
Suddenly, for the first time since the gym, that ugly, unwanted sensation—the one I used to constantly get when I went out of my way to prevent a run-in with Oliver—slithers back into the pit of my stomach. As if I’m doing something wrong and must avoid him at all costs. As if I’m a bad person.
“Hey, Jack.” Oliver doesn’t catch the woman’s glare, or if he does, he chooses to ignore it. “What are you two doing?”
Jack hesitates, peering into Beyond the Cake as if because of Oliver’s sudden appearance, our plans have changed and there’s no point in even going in.
“Uh, Jack was taking me for a coffee.” With my tone, I try to convey to Oliver that Jack wants this to be a one-on-one kind of thing.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t pick up on any of it. “Oh, I could use a coffee.” He pulls the door from Jack, opening it wider. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”
Despite the question, there really is only one answer, and I catch Jack’s grimace before his expression slides into neutral. “Sure.”
The three of us stroll inside, and from behind the cash register, Mrs. Parker waves hello and points at an empty table. Internally, I gush with gratitude. At least she didn’t treat me any different—judgemental like others—or worse, turn me away.
Jack drops his bag on the ground next to his chair. “What will you have?”
He looks at me, smile small, trying to make the best of this three’s a crowd situation.
Smiling brightly, I remove my coat and pull out a chair for him. “A coffee. Cream and sugar.”
“And to eat?” Jack remains standing.
“Oh, I’m okay.”
“Come on. How about a brownie? I’m having one.” The tall, muscled man-boy grins down at me and there’s no way I can say no.
“All right. Twist my rubber arm.” I laugh at my poor joke, not realizing the double entendre until Oliver joins in.
He squeezes my shoulder, gaze softening further. This man. He’s my best friend. My Twist. Never mind how big the hurdles or how many there are to be with him, he’s worth it.
Jack watches us uncomfortably, clearly missing the inside joke, and I internally cringe.I’m here with Jack. Oliver’s an added bonus. I must behave myself. No more googly eyes.
“Let me get it.” Oliver slings his coat over the chair. “Seeing as I crashed your thing, it’s the least I can do.”
Okay, he wasn’t completely oblivious to the situation, and my insides warm at his gesture. Jack falters, fidgeting from one foot to the other, and I worry we might have offended him.
