Page 82 of David

Slower this time.

“Elizabeth?”

Oh, my God.

My heart stops doing all that sprinting before swirling with enthusiasm in my chest.

This man is going to give me a heart attack.

I shift to the door, take a deep breath, and make sure my belt is tied and I’m covered before I unlock and pull it open.

David awaits with a bag of goodies. I swiftly notice the name of the pharmacy open 24 hours downtown.

That was fast.

I take it with a smile.

“Oh… I didn’t expect this. How nice of you.”

It's not my intention to sound phony, but I come off that way.

He lifts an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry if I ruined your plans for the evening,” I add.

That sounds even less genuine, so I stop and look inside the small bag.

He brought everything I needed for my knees.

“Thank you again,” I say quietly, taming my enthusiasm this time.

I’m the only woman I know who can sound phony even when she’s one hundred percent sincere.

“Do you want to come in?”

Glancing over his shoulder, I check the street.

His car is parked in front of my house, and the engine is turned off.

He no longer wears his suit jacket.

“I can’t offer you a drink. Unless you want coffee.”

He ponders as if he’s never been invited to a woman’s place in the middle of the night before.

I just think it’s polite to invite him in.

Maybe I can talk to him a little to smooth things out.

“I’m good. Nothing to drink for me,” he says, walking in, though.

I step back to make room for him.

“This is my new place,” I say, gesturing around. “I barely moved in, so it’s not completely furnished,” I drone on, moving toward the kitchen. “I’ll have a hot chocolate since I’m cold from the rain.”

I place the bag on the kitchen island.

“I don’t expect you to drink hot chocolate with me…” I murmur, waiting for him to comment.

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