Page 22 of Outside The Wire

“Not really. He said it had been five years. It was more like he’d accepted it and it was just part of him. He wasn’t moping around, but he wasn’t throwing a party that she was gone either.”

“Well, bonus points that he’s not a douche nozzle.”

“And he wears her ring around his neck. I think that’s sweet.”

She nodded. “It is sweet.”

Her voice was hesitant, though. “What? What is it?”

“Well, he still wears his wedding ring and her ring around his neck. What if he starts dating you?”

I didn’t see where she was going with this. “Okay…”

“Well, is he going to continue to wear his wedding ring? Will he wear her ring around his neck?”

“I don’t know. I don’t even know if I’ll see him again.”

“Did he ask for your number?”

“He already has it,” I pointed out. “Remember? I hit his truck with the shopping cart. But he did give me his.”

“Then he plans to see you again.”

I frowned, thinking it over. “You know what? I’m not going to worry about it. That’s a tomorrow problem. Today, nothing can go wrong.”

She shrugged, grabbing an old stack of fliers to take to the back room. “If you say so. Just remember, if he keeps that ring on, it’s like you’re having a three-way.”

I grimaced at the picture she painted and decided to find myself something to do to busy myself until the first customers arrived. The last thing I wanted to think about was having sex with Asher and his dead wife.

I headed to the back room to find some more decorative balls for the bowl out front when my phone chimed. I pulled it out, grinning like a fool when I saw a text from Asher.

Good morning, beautiful. Have a good day.

I bouncedfrom toe to toe, smiling as I did my version of a happy dance. He messaged me. He called me beautiful. Could this day get any better?

“What are you so happy about?” Noelle asked, a grin on her face.

Instead of answering, which was impossible when all I wanted to do was squeal, I shoved my phone in her face.

“Holy crap,” she murmured. “Well, are you going to answer?”

“Oh shit.” I stopped dancing long enough to realize that I hadn’t actually said anything back. “What do I say?”

“Without sounding like you just won the lottery because he dared to message you?”

“Of course,” I retorted.

“Well, you could do something insane and respond with,You too.”

I scoffed at the inane response. “He called me beautiful and you want me to sayYou too?”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

I thought about it hard, but what did I say without coming off as some kind of stalker? Then again, how could I be a stalker? He messaged me. He called me beautiful. I was only reciprocating the message.

Thank you very much, kind sir. I hope you have a wonderful day as well.

I hit send,grinning the whole time.

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