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Gene turned his gaze to her. “Haven’t I?”
“It’s okay if you don’t remember me. I was a couple of years below you,” Amanda said, reading his mind.
He didn’t want to say it right then, but he’d had a sense of déjà vu last night on top of his intense attraction to her. A particular memory had tickled at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t quite grasp it.
“That means you’re a few years ahead of my brother?” he asked instead.
“I think so. He might’ve been a freshman when I was a senior.”
Gene nodded. “I remember your family’s bakery. And seeing you behind the counter.”
“Yup. I’d be there when I didn’t have practice or other school things. I took it over from my parents a few years back.”
Gene nodded, remembering his mom’s story.
“And turned it into a bookstore cafe called Sanctuary. What’s with the name?”
Amanda chuckled.
“Jo, my best friend and business partner, is a book nerd and I love baking. So we now have Sanctuary, a safe place where you can read anything you want and consume large-amounts of sweets without judgement.”
Gene chuckled at her description. “I love that.”
“People enjoy coming in so far. Jo invites local book clubs and hosts her own book club every Tuesday night. I provide the guests with delectable baked goods. And sometimes host special baking lessons.”
Noting Amanda’s colors brightening, Gene concluded the bit of food and conversation were helping.
“That’s impressive. I have to stop by sometime.”
“You should. Whatever you want from the cafe will be on the house.”
“Unnecessary, but thank you,” Gene said, appreciating the gesture.
“You said you’ll be working at Dr. Bloom’s clinic for a few months,” Amanda continued after another bite of toast. “But I thought you worked in the city.”
“I’m on a sabbatical.”
“Are you supposed to be working while you’re on a sabbatical?”
Gene smiled. “Exploring other interests.”
Amanda looked at him as if he was crazy. “And your other interest is more health care?”
“Different parts of health care. I’ve worked in the ER for years now. It may be time for a change,” he said vaguely.
“And you want to come back here?”
“I’m still figuring it out.”
Amanda finished her toast.
“I just didn’t think you’d ever come back. You always seemed focused. We all knew you were gonna be a doctor.”
Gene’s brows rose. “Who?”
“Everybody in high school.”
“No.” He chuckled in disbelief. “Was I that obnoxious?”
