Page 22 of Where You Belong

Since I returned from the Navy, we’ve made it our weekly routine to meet up for coffee before heading off to work. Brit always makes it a point to prepare fresh apple cinnamon muffins for me. Like the good cousin I am, I’ll often take a couple of extras off her hands.

The small crowd this morning meant only a few people were in line ahead of us. I spot Will and his wife, Phyllis, seated in the booth near the front. He had owned a car repair shop until about six months ago when he decided to close their doors and retire.

He raises his hand and tilts his hat, nodding his head in a greeting.

When it’s my turn, Brit slides my coffee along the counter toward me and sets a paper bag next to it with what I assume are my goodies.

“Am I really that predictable?” I grin.

She shrugs. “Have I ever been wrong?”

“Well, there was that one time…” I trail off, joking.

Brit shakes her head and rolls her eyes. I toss a twenty on the counter, and she snatches it away, punching a few buttons on the register before the drawer pops open.

The doorbell dings, and I spot a wave of chocolate curls in my periphery. Even if I hadn’t noticed her walk in, I certainly would’ve felt her presence.

My eyes lock with Haelynn. Her footsteps falter, standing in the doorway until the door closes, pushing her inside. She lets out a small yelp, caught by surprise, before pressing her lips into a firm line to hide her smile.

She does a quick glance around the diner to see if anyone heard her. I shrug, reassuring her it wasn’t a big deal.

“You know her?” Layla whispers under her breath.

“I’ll be right back,” I reply, waving to Brit to keep my change. I swipe the bag and coffee off the counter, then cross the room toward Haelynn.

“I guess it’ll be a good day after all.” I grin, stepping in close to her. The move stirs up the air between us, and I breathe in the smell of her perfume mixed with the clean scent of her shampoo.

“Smooth talker,” she murmurs playfully.

“It’s the truth. I woke up this morning still thinking we had three days left. I’ve been counting them down, but seeing you now makes it a bit more bearable.”

“You come here often?” she asks, taking a step forward to join the end of the line.

I nod, peering over toward Layla and Brit. Although Brit was busy taking orders, I wasn’t blind to the curious glances they threw our way. I recognize their inquisitive looks, speculating what was going on between the two of us.

When I turn back toward Haelynn, her eyes bounce from Layla and back to me. She presses her lips into a straight line, adjusting her purse on her shoulder.

“You could say I’m a staple around here,” I joke. “That’s my sister and cousin over there… gawking.”

The tension on her face relaxes. “I recognized her. It took me a second to figure out where, but I think I saw her at Huxton’s school the other night.”

Layla, who’s busy listening in like a hawk, slips through the line toward us.

“Well, hello.” Layla smirks, her eyes moving from me, over to Haelynn, and back.

“Ignore my brother. He must’ve lost his manners. I’m Layla.” She extends her hand between us to shake Haelynn’s.

Brit greets Haelynn with a smile as Haelynn introduces herself to Layla. I’m surprised she knows Brit already.

“Haelynn works for Madelyn over at Memories and Moments,” Brit clarifies, and I nod. “We met when I took the twins in to get their pictures taken.”

“How do you know each other?” Layla asks, pointing between the two of us. She presses her lips together, trying to smother the grin threatening to stretch across her face.

“Madelyn asked me to do a favor for her down at the studio.”

I know once I tell them about our photo shoot, they’ll ask a million questions we don’t have time to answer. I’m more focused on getting a few minutes alone with her.

“Uh-huh,” Layla says, trying to figure out what’s going on between us. “Well, Ms. Haelynn, if you didn’t know, my brother is single. He’s a great catch.”

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