Page 66 of If By Chance

“You’re ganging up on me.” I pout.

With a long breath, Jake takes his wallet from his pocket and places his credit card on the counter. “Amy, I’m going to find painkillers. I trust you know your sister. Get her anything she wants.”

She bites down on her lower lip before dipping her head and looking at me as if to say, ‘Is he real?’

Yes, sis. He’s real. I even touched him once to check.

He taps the counter twice and stands straight. “I’ll bring back coffee. You’re stressed or excited or whatever the hell that mood is, so I’m guessing you need two sugars?”

How does he know that?

I gape. “Uh, huh.”

He turns to Amy. “How about you?”

“I’ll have the same,” she says, just as flabbergasted.

“Before you leave,” I call after him. “Mandy’s dad owns the restaurant across the street. They have the best coffee. Thanks, big guy.” I wink.

His only response is an exasperated groan before he leaves, looking like something straight from a magazine as he crosses the street.

Amy skips to my side.

“He knows you take sugar in your coffee when you’re stressed? Girl, you are so fucked.”

I watch as she walks away, tapping his credit card against her palm while she eyes the acoustic guitars.

“He’s observant.” I shrug, eager to ease the pinch in my chest.

Damn it, heart. Don’t start this shit with me.

Her lips pull upward. “Is there something going on between you two?”

“Sweet Jesus, no. He’s just really involved with the shelter.”

“He’s hot.”

“You’re married to a woman.”

“I don’t want him to rail me. Penises are gross. But I’m also not blind. I can see, and I see how badly you want him to railyoubecause you don’t think penises are gross.”

She gags.

“Amy,” I screech, face burning so much, I know I’ll never hide it. “I do not.”

Her laugh is loud and grates at my ears, but only because there’s an echo in my head screaming, ‘She’s right.’

It may have crossed my mind once or twice.

“You need to practice your poker face because he’ll eventually see the sex in your eyes and your panties falling off.”

“My panties aren’t going anywhere, and what does sex in your eyes look like?”

She spins my head around, forcing me to look in the mirror.

My cheeks are flushed, and I’m physically squirming.

She pokes my nose. “That.”

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