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As I shifted the bottles to his hands, I couldn’t help but notice he was extra careful not to make contact, grabbing the bottles toward the middle. I released them and took a step back.
“We’ll talk later,” he said.
I nodded, but I continued on my backward trek, ready to put as much distance between us as possible. The last thing I wanted was for him to see the tears that were threatening to surface.
I’d really felt something for this guy. I might have even been falling in love. And now I felt foolish for thinking it could actually work out.
This was no different than the other relationships I’d had. Only this time, I’d lost my virginity.
Suddenly, it wasn’t so fun to be a bad girl anymore. Being a good girl never hurt like this.
I climbed into the food truck and rushed through my closing duties. The faster I could get this food truck back to the bakery, the better. Then I could cry on my lunch break, repair my makeup, and go back to work behind the counter at the bakery, where I’d do my best to pretend I was fine. Just fine.
6
TUCKER
I’d fucked up. It took me a full three days to realize that. And in those three days, I hadn’t seen Hannah at all.
Finally, I had to ask her sister what was up.
“Where’s Hannah?” I asked the second I walked up to the window Friday morning.
There was a desperation in my voice. I heard it, and Hannah’s sister seemed to hear it too. Her smile faded and her eyebrows arched.
“She’s not here,” she said.
Okay, it was clear this woman wasn’t going to make it easy on me. “Is she at the bakery?”
“Of course.” Hannah’s sister narrowed her eyes at me. “You didn’t think you could chase her out of town by dumping her, did you?”
“Dumping her?” I asked. “I didn’t dump her.”
“No?” She crossed her arms over her chest, clearly being an overprotective sister. “What do you call it, then?”
“I told her I needed a little time. We weren’t in a relationship.”
“Oh, you’re one of those guys,” she said. “Interested until you get what you want, and then you run.”
Just how much had Hannah told her sister? It didn’t matter. My goal wasn’t to argue with someone else about what I had or didn’t have with Hannah. My goal was to find Hannah so I could discuss it with her myself.
“So, she’s at the bakery?” I asked.
Hannah dropped her arms and leaned forward. “Don’t bring peonies. It’s already been done. Maybe roses or wildflowers.”
I tilted my head. I was definitely not following this conversation.
“If you’re going to apologize to her,” Hannah’s sister, obviously noting my confusion, said. “The grand gesture that the guys make in all the romance novels she reads. My sister’s a hopeless romantic. Don’t just show up with a bunch of I’m sorries. You have to go big or go home.”
I knew I had all the information I needed, but I was still standing here. Why was that?
“Thanks,” I said. “Can I get a black coffee?”
She nodded. “She’ll be closing up the shop by herself tonight.” She walked over to the coffee dispenser. “She’ll close up at five sharp, though, so you might have to cut out of work early.”
I paid and took my cup, but I was all too aware Hannah’s sister was still watching me. I should just turn and walk away, but I was too curious about what she seemed to be gearing up to say. So, I waited.
“Don’t hurt my sister,” she said. “She still believes in love.”
