Page 67 of Surprised By Her

“Do you have things to talk about? Like, is there a lot of awkward silence?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “We have silence, but it’s never awkward.”

“Do you struggle to find something to say to her?”

I thought about that. “No.”

“There you go. You could have a million things in common, but if you don’t have that chemistry where you can talk, commonality isn’t going to do shit,” she said. “Lark and I don’t seem like two people who could make a life together, but we’re doing it. Love is just like that.”

“We’re not talking about love,” I said.

“Right, but still. Chemistry. I saw it between the two of you at the pool party. The sparks were flying.” She wiggled her fingers as if to demonstrate.

There was a crash and we both turned around to find Eileen looking surprised.

“It just jumped out of my hands,” she said sadly as she looked down at the now-shattered platter.

“I’ve got this,” I said, reaching for the broom. The bell over the door sounded and Sydney thanked me before heading out to handle the new customers.

“I don’t know how it happens,” Eileen said, still staring down at the platter.

“It’s okay,” I said, starting to sweep.

“Did I hear that you’re dating someone?” she asked as I swept up. She got the dustpan for me.

“Oh, I’m not dating someone. I mean, I don’t think I am. I’m not,” I said. My face was getting red again.

Eileen blinked at me.

“Sounds complicated,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to be.” Flings weren’t meant for complicated. Their very nature was to be easy and simple and fun. Easy, simple, fun. No one got their heart broken, no one cried at the end. You went off into the fall with good memories and a spring in your step and that was it. That was what I needed.

Eileen hummed to herself and I cleaned up the rest of the platter and went back to packing orders.

“Have you thought about the barbecue this weekend?” Ryan said to me that night.

“Oh, right.” Why not? It was a casual thing with a small group of people I’d already met. It was also in a house I’d already been to. Plus, Ryan made me comfortable.

“Sure,” I said. “I’m in.”

She smiled. “Good. Then how about we have a little something to celebrate?” She pulled a box out of the fridge and flourished it at me. “I didn’t make them, but I stopped by Sweet’s and couldn’t help myself.”

“Show me, show me,” I said.

Ryan opened the box and there were all manner of cupcakes inside. “I thought I could get some inspiration for what to bake next.”

“What are they?” I asked and Ryan glanced into the box and then back at me.

“Honestly? I forget,” she said with a laugh. “Let’s figure it out.”

She split each cupcake in half and we had a taste test.

“Okay, this one is definitely chocolate, obviously, but there’s hazelnut? And maybe some raspberry?” I said.

Ryan nodded. “Definitely. There’s a tiny little bit of saltiness too.”

There was.

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