Page 42 of The Hookup Situation
She takes another piece of bacon, grinning when I don’t stop her. Being with her is everything I didn’t know I was missing.
“So, what’s Phase Two?” Julie asks, adding even more syrup to her pancakes.
“Haven’t figured that out yet.”
“Really?”
“Still to be determined.” I tilt my head, admiring how pretty she is. “Truthfully, you make me want to be more spontaneous.”
She pauses, looking at me with those green eyes that see too much. “That might be the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“That’s impossible.”
“No, I mean it.” She sets down her fork. “Most people think I’m too impulsive. You’re the first person who makes spontaneity seem like a good thing.”
She makes me feel alive. I haven’t randomly done anything since I stopped playing hockey and locked myself in my corporate castle.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” I ask.
“Not much. I switched shifts so I could do yoga with you. I have to be at work at two.”
“That gives us six hours.”
She grins wide. “What do you have in mind?”
“No idea.”
“Sold.”
We demolish our pancakes while the diner fills up around us. Every few minutes, someone stops by our booth to congratulate us or make small talk. Julie handles it all with grace, introducing me, making everyone feel important. She belongs here in a way I’ve never belonged anywhere.
“You’re good at that,” I tell her after the fifth interruption.
“At what?”
“Making people feel like they’re not a burden.”
She shrugs. “Small-town survival skill. Everyone wants to matter.”
“You matter,” I say without thinking.
Her cheeks turn pink. “So do you.”
We stare at each other across the booth, and I want to kiss her again. Not for show, not for the woman who I can see walking past the window, staring at us. Just because.
“We should go,” Julie says, breaking the moment. “Before Marge tries to feed us pie.”
“Too late!” Marge appears with two slices of apple pie. “Made fresh this morning.”
“Marge, we just ate enough for four people,” Julie protests.
“That’s why I’m boxing it up to go. You kids have fun today.” She winks at me again. “Take care of our girl.”
“I will,” I promise, meaning it more than I should.
When we walk outside, I glance over at Julie.
Then I notice a lady across the street, phone out, obviously watching and texting someone.
