Page 35 of Sycamore Circle

“Yep. I’ve got to be there in about fifteen minutes.”

“I like how you’ve been coming over here for a spell before class.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re becoming a regular.”

“It’s a good place to get some homework done before I go dance.” And, of course, to catch a glimpse of Finn. Realizing that she’d been sitting there for a while, she blurted, “Hey, do you want this booth for other customers? I can move.”

“Nope. We’re not too busy, so you take your time in this spot. I’ll send Finn over in a sec to see if you need something before you go.”

She couldn’t have stopped her blush if she’d prayed with all her might. “Thanks.” After Mary moved away, Chloe pulled back out her literature book and opened it to Our Town and the worksheet her English teacher had given her for guided reading. She didn’t really mind the play. In fact, she liked it a lot. Well, she would’ve liked it if she hadn’t been forced to read it—as it was, she just wanted to get it read and get the worksheet finished so she could not think about it anymore.

Flipping through the second act, she kept reading the text, then checking the worksheet. When she ran out of malt, she started chewing on the end of her straw.

“Do you want some water? Or maybe another malt?”

She froze and looked up at Finn. “No.”

“You sure about that?”

She knew he was teasing. “Boy, you’re sure getting full of yourself. It’s night and day from when you started here.”

He almost smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I will fetch you another glass of water if you want it.”

She glanced at the clock again. She had five more minutes. If she said no, he wouldn’t come back. “Sure. Thanks.”

“I’ll be right back.”

Happy that his back was turned, Chloe watched Finn stride over to the counter, pull out a plastic cup, and fill it with ice. He paused to say something to the men he’d been talking with and nodded. Then, looking intent, he pulled out a plastic lid and a paper-covered straw from a cup and carried both the straw and the glass to her.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.” She tore off the paper cover and popped it in the water. “Can you sit with me for a few minutes?”

He shook his head. “I can’t. I already was talking to some people.”

“I noticed you sitting over there,” she commented. So cool, as if she hadn’t been staring at him practically the whole time. “Are they friends of yours?”

He looked surprised. “Nee. I mean, no. They’re not.” Looking even more flustered, he added, “I mean, they’re friends of a friend. I think.”

She chuckled. “Sorry, but you’re not making much sense.”

“I know.” He shrugged. “It’s kind of complicated. It ain’t nothing you need to worry about.”

For some reason she felt a little stung. She knew they didn’t know each other real well, but it felt like he was purposely keeping a secret from her. “Oh.”

“Sorry. It’s nothing personal.”

She took another sip from her water before pushing it away. “I know. Don’t worry about it. I mean it’s not like we’re friends or anything. Not really.”

Looking frustrated, he pursed his lips. Then, after a second or two, he pointed to her open book. “Looks like you’re reading a play.”

“I am. It’s Our Town. Have you read it?”

He smiled like he thought she was joking. “No.”

“Is it because you don’t like plays or because you haven’t gotten the chance to read this one?”

“It’s because I’m Amish, so we finish up school in eighth grade. And it’s also because even if I had gone to school as long as you, I likely wouldn’t have been able to read it too good.”

She was embarrassed. “Oh.” She stood up and started shoving her books in her backpack. “Look, I’m sorry. I should’ve just ignored everything that’s none of my business. I was just curious. That’s all.”

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