Page 55 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

My phone buzzed. For a second, my heart leaped with hope. But it was only Phin, sweet and loyal friend, texting:How u doing?

I typed, paused, stared at the text for what to say.

I was…not okay?

My heart was dry and parched like the desert?

Fuck, no. I appreciated Phin and James, Kamira, and some others asking me how things were going, but I had burdened all of them when dating Tanner, pulled my friends into my guy drama. And Sean was their boss, same as mine, so I wasn’t going to burden them this time.

I’m working on my balcony. Got some good plants, I texted.

Are u there for the next few hours?

Going to Home Depot for some plant stuff.Why? U free?

Maybe, Phin texted.Pin me when you are at HD.

Will do.

Despite my lingering feelings for Sean, I tried to reconcile that we would have to be around each other on occasion. On those rare times we did run into each other at work, I imagined how it might go.

I’d get hot on my face and would mumble a hello. Sean would greet me softly but keep going on his way. We’d be civil, professional. Sean never would make me feel in jeopardy at work. I knew he’d always remain a good boss. God, it would suck so much.

I missed him. Not Captain Smack—I missed Sean. The one only I got to see. I glanced around my tiny balcony. It was a narrow space with a sliver of direct sun. But the sun here was brutal.

“I’ll have to water you often,” I said to the plant, stroking a leaf. “I sincerely will try to keep you alive.”

After showering and dressing, I headed out. All the little things I missed about Sean crept into my thoughts. His toleranceof my zombie shows. How he made me breakfast. How he kissed me.

At Home Depot, I dropped Phin a pin for my location and texted him a place we could go for lunch if possible.

Bring James and the dog, I added.

Phin gave me a thumbs-up.

I wandered down the aisles of flowers, looking for a companion for my new plant and some fertilizer. I chatted with the nice lady who worked there about plants on balconies and how not to kill them.

I was near the exit of the garden area, where it was open to the parking lot, when I saw two familiar people coming toward me, and my heart froze.

Sean and Erin.

Erin was in cutoff shorts and a sparkly top. She had a big picnic basket in one hand, the other holding her dad’s hand.

Sean was also in cutoffs and a dark T-shirt that hugged his muscles. He was…fuck, so beautiful. My shocked heart began to beat like a drum.

“Hiya, Caleb!” chirped Erin.

“Hey,” I managed to reply, my voice thick. “Doing some shopping?”

“Sort of,” she giggled and looked to her dad.

I looked at Sean, too. With his eyes meeting mine, I found myself holding my breath.

“Phin told us where to find you.”

I stared, unable to process his words. Or the fact that they were here.

Erin opened the top of the basket and rummaged through it. “We got fruit, cheese, trail mix, donuts.”

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