Page 13 of Chasing Stars
Have you eaten yet? Want to get some brunch?
Jenna agreesto meet me at a small cafe downtown for brunch. I want to see her, but I don’t want her to know that I can’t stop thinking about her, so I arm myself with information about the house. I don’t even know why I want to see her so badly. I’ve gotsome soul-searching of my own to do. Since my ex-wife, Erin, no woman has pulled me in like this. Typically, I’ll ask a girl out, she’ll say yes—a vacation fling sounds fun. We’ll hang out for a week and then she’ll go back to her life, and I’ll go back to mine. It’s really the perfect arrangement: I’m never lonely, and I never have to commit to anyone. Jenna fits the mold—she is just passing through—but I can already tell she’d be different for me. Only since I’ve met her have I started feeling like something is missing. It’s a foreign feeling and suddenly, I’m questioning everything.
When I walk up to the café, Jenna is already sitting at an outdoor table waiting for me. She’s scrolling on her phone and doesn’t notice me at first. I pause before she does and let myself take her in. Her brown hair, in its naturally wavy texture, is blowing in the autumn breeze. She’s wearing oversized black sunglasses and black leggings. Her running shoes look brand new, and I wonder if she has ever worn them. Maybe she’s like me, has good intentions of running, even goes as far as buying the shoes, but then never actually runs. She has on a long-sleeved shirt, but she rubs her arms when the breeze blows, telling me she’s chilly. She’s beautiful, and I am completely taken aback by her.
I glance down at my own outfit. Nate and I keep a pretty casual office, unless we have home showings. I’m wearing loose-fitting jeans, a thermal, and my gray Hey Dudes. This is an outfit I would wear on a date, yet I’m strangely self-conscious. I don’t know what’s happening to me around this girl. I run a hand through my floppy hair and suck in a breath. It’s now or never.
A soft breeze drifts in as I approach, and Jenna rubs her arms again. “Are you cold?” I ask her.
She looks up from her phone, giving me an easy smile and pushing her sunglasses onto her head. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I say back. For a moment, our eyes lock, and we linger there, suspended in whatever this is that’s brewing between us. Mesmerized by this woman, I clear my throat. “If you’re chilly, let’s eat inside.”
Jenna nods. “Okay. Yeah. That sounds better.” She shivers a little and I resist the urge to wrap an arm around her. I’m not even trying to sleep with her, yet her every move makes me want to reach out and touch her.
We walk toward the door, and I put my hand on her lower back as I open it with my other. She smiles at me over her shoulder, and I can’t tell if it’s meant to be encouraging or if she’s being polite. I quickly remove my hand once we’re inside, just to be safe.
The hostess leads us to a corner booth, and Jenna slides in across from me. I sit down and look over the menu, forcing myself to act normally. All it took was a weekend helping Jenna to turn me into this rom-com cliche.
“So…” Jenna says nervously. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?” She raises her eyebrows.
Something I want to talk about…right. Because it would be weird to have asked her to brunch otherwise.I chew on my lip, trying to remember my excuse.
Before I can answer, a server comes over, interrupting us. “Hi, folks. My name is Julie. I’ll be taking care of you. Can I interest you in some coffee?”
“Yes!” Jenna says quickly. I chuckle as she shrugs sheepishly. “This is my first cup today. The coffee maker in that house is ancient. I couldn’t even figure out how to turn it on.”Note to self, buy Jenna a coffee pot. No. Don’t do that. That’s not something property managers do.
I laugh. “Yes, please,” I say to the server. When she walks away, I clear my throat, finding my voice again. “I set up a home inspection for you. It’ll be tomorrow afternoon. I don’t know theguy, but Danny does. He’ll be there with us so he can give us advice if we need it.”
Jenna sighs, relief crossing her delicate features. “Thank you, Miles. Really. I don’t know what I would do if I hadn’t met you.” She pauses and as an afterthought says, “Probably cry. Since lately it seems like that’s all I do.”
The server returns, placing two piping hot mugs of diner coffee in front of us.
“I’ll give you two another few minutes,” she says before walking away.
She slides the mug toward her and inhales deeply before fixing her coffee thoughtfully.
I stifle an awkward cough, scratching my stubble. “I’m happy to help,” I tell her, reaching for my own cup of coffee.
Our hands brush when I reach for it and my knuckles tingle. Jenna gives me a hesitant smile before pulling her hand back and reaching for her mug. If I’m not misreading the situation, there is something mutual in the way her eyes meet mine—uncertain but open. Our eyes meet and the conversation stalls again, both of us looking to the other to speak first.
Jenna swallows and averts her eyes.She must feel it too.Hope bubbles in my chest.There’s a connection here.
“So, what do you think you’re going to get?” she asks, forcing me out of my thoughts.
“Probably pancakes with chocolate chips in them and on top.” I grin. “I’m a child.”
Jenna lets out a genuine laugh, her shoulders relaxing a little. “That actually sounds great.”
The server returns to take our order, and Jenna blurts outmyorder before I even get a chance, eyeing me mischievously as she repeats it to the server.
“And for you?” the server asks.
“I’ll have what she’s having,” I say, meeting Jenna’s gaze, forcing my eyes to remain there and not down at those lips again.
The server finishes jotting down our order and disappears. Jenna picks up her mug and takes a sip, never taking her eyes off me. She seems good today, like maybe she’s coming to terms with the house stuff.
“So, you bought paint.” I arch an eyebrow at her.
