Page 82 of Teach Me How

And that kind of bothers me.

The other issue is that my ideal type has shifted. It’s become very, very specific.

As in, there is literally one of them in the entire world. Which means my quest to find someone to settle down with is more or less doomed.

While I’m admittedly still hung up on Reese, she’s not only moving on, but she’s ready to pass me off.

It kills me to think of her dating one of those crunchy hiker-types that we met out in Boulder, makes me want to knock their heads together like coconuts. It would be mollifying if Reese felt even a fraction of that jealousy. But no, she’s facilitating this arrangement.

The waitress drops off a piece of cake and slides a cup of coffee in front of us. Eliana fiddles with her coffee mug. “So, how long have you and Reese known each other?”

“Since we were kids.”

She nods, and an awkward silence descends. I clear my throat. “How long have you known Reese?”

“We were in the same graduate program.” She smiles to herself. “I never really had time for dating during school. But I guess I’m trying to prioritize now. These things don’t just happen, you know? And Reese is hard to say no to.”

I smile. “Yeah. She’s pretty feisty.”

“So, when are you going to tell her?”

I tilt my head. “Tell her…”

“That you love her.”

My ears grow warm, and I adjust my glasses. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

Eliana smiles, not unkindly, but she does look like a woman who’s been put through a trial. “You’re clearly in love with Reese.”

“I am?”

Eliana laughs. “Head over heels is my guess.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Probably the fact that you called me Reese twice in the last fifteen minutes.”

I grimace. “I did?”

“The server, too.”

Oh, god. That explains the funny looks they were giving me.

Eliana rests her chin in her palm, elbow braced on the table. “So, when are you going to tell her?”

I sigh, sitting back. “I don’t know about love… but I might have some feelings for her.”

Eliana narrows her eyes at me.

I huff a laugh. “Okay, strong feelings. But not strong enough to get in her way.”

“With the move? She told me about the new job.”

“Yeah.”

Eliana sips her coffee. “And you’d never consider moving?”

“I’m a farmer.” I shrug. “Unless we can figure out a way to pick up land and move it, I’m stuck in Silver Bend.”

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