Page 40 of Waste Some Time
“Is Stephen expecting you? Because I can take you to the staff room. His shift should be?—”
“No, no,” Sydney stammered over Katie. “I’m actually here to see you.”
Her heart raced as she waited for Katie’s response. She knew this was a gamble. Katie’s text the day before had been so decisive. And her refusal to respond further, even more so.
But Sydney couldn’t let that be all between them. Not when Katie didn’t know the full picture yet.
She had been so nervous to come down here, and even more nervous to say the words she was about to say, but she had to say them. She couldn’t let this be the end of them. Not without laying everything on the table first.
“Oh.”
Nothing else but that word came from Katie, except a slight flush to her cheeks.
“You were great in that presentation, by the way. And those otters were so cute.”
“Thanks,” Katie said, her expression flat. “But I’m assuming you didn’t come here alone to watch an otter show.”
Sydney smiled. “You assume correctly.”
Katie shifted uncomfortably. “So why are you here, then?”
“So, first of all, I’m moving back to New Orleans. Officially.”
“That’s great.” Katie’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was an unexpected sadness behind them. “I’m sure Stephen is ecstatic.”
“Oh, he is,” Sydney said. “Me too, actually. I didn’t realize how much I wanted this until I came back here for the week. And meeting with Rachel has opened up new career possibilities in my mind. So I have you to thank for setting that up.”
Katie’s smile looked a little more genuine now. “I’m really glad for that. Happy I could help. Both of you. I know Rachel appreciated the advice.”
“So that’s the first thing.”
Sydney’s heart raced. She’d stepped through the door. No turning back now.
The expression on Katie’s face tightened with apprehension. “What’s the second thing?”
“The second thing is…” Sydney took a deep breath. “The second thing is, I’m in love with you.”
Sydney watched a flash of annoyance wash over Katie’s face as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
“That’s great,” she said. “But don’t you think that’s a little unfair?”
All Sydney could do was blink at Katie. Sure, she’d prepared herself to not have the sentiment returned. She felt she needed to say it, anyway. But unfair?
“What?”
Katie took a deep breath. She clearly had some things she needed to get off her chest, too.
“You aren’t ready for a serious relationship yet. And I respect that. It’s why I left yesterday. I’m sorry I bailed the way I did, but I’m giving you that space.” She took another breath as the rims of her eyes turned a subtle shade of red. “So you coming down here to say that you love me is just painful.”
Ouch.
Sydney definitely hadn’t been expecting that.
She had to fix this.
“But I don’t want that anymore,” she said.
A frown settled into the corners of Katie’s mouth. “Don’t want what?”
