Page 51 of Safe With Me

“I saw something between the two of you right away?—”

“I’m going to stop you right there. We’re friends, and like I told you, there can’t be anything more than that between us.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that there is. Mike is a good guy. I know you’re a little hesitant because he’s younger than you, but really, it doesn’t matter.”

“It’s not that. Or only that?—”

“Are you ladies ready to order?” our waitress chirped as she came up to our table, saving me from having to answer for a few extra moments.

“Yes, I think so. I’ll take the cheeseburger with fried mushrooms. Medium. And a Diet Coke.”

“I will have the same. The fried mushrooms here are amazing.” Claudia handed back her menu with a big smile.

“So, what’s making you hesitate? Is it because you work for Jake?”

“Of course. I mean, he didn’t come out and say I couldn’t date his son, but it’s not exactly appropriate—or wise, considering how much I need this job.”

“You’re both adults, and Jake gets that. As long as you stayed professional at your job, I don’t think he would mind if you dated his son and, for argument’s sake, it didn’t work out.”

I exhaled and let my chin drop to my chest.

“He’s twenty-five. Beautiful. Sweet.” I pinched the edge of my paper napkin between my fingers. “He’s got so much to offer.”

“And you don’t? That’s not true.”

“Well, it is at the moment. It took a lot for me to come out tonight alone. It’s a good step in the right direction, but I still have so many hang-ups to work through and I have no clue how long that will take. Mike doesn’t want me or my baggage.”

“Then you haven’t caught the way he looks at you.”

I didn’t reply as the waitress set down our drink orders or admit that, yes, I did notice. And I was sure I looked back at him the same way.

When Mike was around, he calmed me as much as he made my heart race.

Ted had always crowded me, even at the beginning when all he’d wanted to do was spend every spare second of time he had with me. But with Mike, I never minded if he stayed close, and I looked forward to every minute I got to see him.

Even if I’d only known him for a short time, the thought of losing Mike when he’d always be close by would hurt.

It was easier to make sure he wasn’t all the way mine, but very difficult to explain.

Claudia dropped it for the most part after dinner, but even when she’d gone into the local gossip and who might be at the bar tonight, I’d let Mike’s name slip a couple of times. She’d bite back a smile but didn’t press.

“I shouldn’t be too busy tonight, so you can linger by the bar,” she told me as we stepped inside The Pour House. “Which you don’t have to. If you want to mingle, feel free.”

“I think I need to work up to mingling, but I’ll see where the night takes me.”

“You do what you feel comfortable with. Either way, I’m glad you’re here tonight, but you should not feel nervous at all. It’s up to you how social you want to be, but as far as seeing Jared or any other tools—” she stopped before she headed to the back, grabbing me by the arm, “—this is my place, and no one will bother you or they’ll have to leave. Just keep that in mind.”

I tapped the top of her hand and nodded.

“I will. And that helps.”

The crowd was lighter than I’d expected for a Saturday night. Taking one of the seats in the middle of the bar, I set my pursedown on the counter and glanced around. I recognized a couple of faces, customers who had come into the office to speak to Jake about a job and possibly others I sort of recognized from the festival.

Claudia would never let me leave too early, so I had to find a way to occupy my time. I didn’t know anyone here well enough to seek them out and make conversation, so until I had my bearings, I’d play mysterious new girl at the bar while waiting for Claudia to have a free minute to chat.

“Oh hey,” a familiar squeaky voice said. “Glad to see you back when it’s not so crazy here for once.”

Amber smiled as she set a napkin in front of me.

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