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I didn’t hear from Callen again since the day he left. If all went well, I’d never have to deal with him again.
I also hadn’t seen or talked to Ty. Only a couple days passed since Knox and I talked on the hike. Yes, I’d agreed to giving friendship with Ty another chance, but I wasn’t going out of my way to speak with him. Every time I thought about texting him or seeing him, my stomach knotted. He hadn’t been at his usual physical therapy appointment and even though I wondered why, I still couldn’t bring myself to reach out.
“It’s dead in here today, you can leave early if you want,” Faye said, as I folded some new jeans we’d gotten in.
I picked up the empty box that had held the new merchandise and carried it over to the counter. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.” She’d just got back from the prison, and usually seemed a bit sad after. I didn’t mind keeping her company.
She sighed. “There’s really no reason for you to stay…” The door chimed as a customer walked into the boutique. I turned with my big, customer service smile, freezing as a pair of bright, hazel eyes met mine.
Ty sauntered into the shop like he owned the place. His familiar, boyish grin was in full force. I leaned against the counter for support as he approached, only stopping when he was a breath away from me.
“Hey,” he said, his smile wide and shining. Something seemed different about him. Ever since he returned to town, he’d been guarded; more broody than the carefree, spirited Ty I knew.
My heart hammered against my ribs. Last time I saw him, my lips were almost touching his. Every fiber of my body told me to run. But I couldn’t. I had to forget about what happened in the alley on Friday night. I pushed it out of my mind, focusing on the promise I made to Knox. I had to try.
I lifted my gaze, trying to force a smile. “Hi,” I answered, finally.
His grin widened. “When do you get off?”
I hesitated, but Faye was quick to interrupt. “She’s off right now, actually.”
I threw her a look over my shoulder. She gave me a soft, innocent smile. I hadn’t told Faye about everything that had happened with Ty and me. She only knew he had left and it was hard for me, but now he was back. I definitely hadn’t uttered a word to anyone about what happened in the alley.
“Great,” Ty said, and I looked back at him. “Do you want to go get some coffee with me?”
He said it so innocently, but my skin heated. “You don’t like coffee.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “But you do.”
I twirled a lock of hair around a finger. I hadn’t talked to him since almost kissing him in a dark alley, and now he wanted to have coffee? I pressed my lips together, swallowing all the smart retorts I wanted to throw at him. I needed to try to be his friend. It couldn’t be that hard, could it? We’d done it before.
Before he broke every semblance of trust I’d had in him.
Stop. Be nice. For Knox.
I smiled around clenched teeth. “Sure,” I said tightly. “Coffee would be great.”
