Page 25 of Waste Some Time
Sydney was right.
As enjoyable as the day was, this had to be the end of their time together.
“You deserve all the time and space you need to figure things out.”
“Thanks,” Sydney said, squeezing Katie’s hand again. “I really do like you.”
Katie smiled at her. She couldn’t help it. This might be a lost cause, but she couldn't help how she felt at that moment. “I really like you, too.”
“I should go, though.”
Katie gave a tentative smile. “Pizza first?”
As if she’d manifested dinner with that one simple sentence, a knock on the door revealed the delivery person had arrived.
“I mean, since it’s already here.” Sydney smiled. “Sure.”
“Great,” Katie stood and walked towards the door.
Benjamin replaced Katie in her spot on the couch beside Sydney.
Great. She was jealous of her own cat.
Katie tipped the guy and brought in the pizza. She placed the box on the coffee table and brought some plates from the kitchen.
“Dig in,” she said.
And they did. They finished most of the pizza, with minimal snooping and begging from Benjamin. He seemed to like Sydney’s leg more than he enjoyed being shooed off the couch.
Sydney stood and grabbed her bag from the floor near her feet. “I should head out. Stephen’s going to have a million questions about what we did, and I’d like to get to bed early. All the walking today wore me out.”
“He’s already texted me three times. I left him on read, so he knows we’re alive, but I’m ignoring him for now.”
“Then I’d better get back to face the firing squad. Tell Benjamin he’s the best cat in the world. And maybe I’ll see him again one day. If I’m in town again later.”
Katie licked her lips, the action completely reflexive. She knew this was the opportunity to remind them both of what they wanted. And what would get in the way of that. The opportunity to put Sydney and that kiss and the whole day behind her.
Instead, she said, “He would like that very much.”
10
SYDNEY
Sydney stoodand extended her hand as the woman approached the table. She was just as Katie had described: dark blonde shaggy bob, bubbly presence, and a wide, genuine smile.
“Rachel?”
“That’s me.” Rachel shook her hand. “You must be Sydney.”
Sydney gestured at the chair across the little round table. “Have a seat. I was just about to order my coffee. What can I get for you?”
“Oh, no. You’re helping me out today. Let me get the drinks.”
“No worries,” Sydney said. “My treat. This way if you don’t like what I have to say you’ll still have gotten something out of this.”
Rachel laughed. “That’s some wild logic. Thank you. Caramel Macchiato.”
Sydney put in their orders and paid, then returned to the little table by the window while the barista prepared their drinks. The place was vibrant with a wall of windows and a high ceiling with exposed beams and ducts. Photos of local jazz performers dotted the white brick walls, and there wasn’t an empty table to be found besides the one Sydney grabbed just before Rachel arrived.
