Page 27 of Cooking Up My Comeback

---

Brett: She’s protective. I respect that.

Me: She likes you too. Which is either a very good sign or means she’s lost her mind.

Brett: I’ll take either.

I should definitely say goodnight now. This conversation is moving into territory that feels less like business and more like... hope.

Me: I should let you go.

Brett: You should. But I’m not ready for this to end.

Me: The conversation?

Brett: Among other things.

My breath catches.

Me: Brett...

Brett: Too much?

Me: Maybe.

Brett: Should I back off?

Me: Don’t.

The word is out before I can stop it.

Brett: Don’t what?

Me: Don’t back off. Just... give me time to figure this out.

Brett: The restaurant or whatever this is between us?

Me: Both.

Brett: I can do that.

Me: Even though patience isn’t exactly your strong suit?

Brett: How do you know that?

Me: Lucky guess. You’re the type who wants problems solved yesterday.

Brett: You’re not wrong.

Me: I usually am right about people. It’s my superpower.

Brett: Whatelse do you see?

The question catches me off guard. There’s vulnerability underneath it.

Me: I see someone who’s scared of wanting things too much. Someone who’s used to keeping people at arm’s length. Someone who’s fighting the urge to care.

The typing indicator appears and disappears several times.

Brett: You see too much.

---