Page 63 of Love in the Storm

Asa turned to see Tracy, the bakery owner, holding up a tray.

“Thanks. Sorry about that.”

“No problem. Enjoy,” Tracy said before turning back to her work.

Asa sat at a table, and Dawson joined him a minute later.

“What’s got you distracted?” Dawson asked.

“You know about any places up for rent?”

Dawson’s brow lifted. “Like a storefront or a house?”

“House. Apartment would be better.”

“Who’s it for?”

Asa hung his head. “That’s not important.”

Dawson gasped. “It’s Lyric!”

“Keep your voice down,” Asa chided.

Dawson leaned forward and whispered, “It’s Lyric.”

“I’m not saying who it is.”

“Why does she need to move?”

“I don’t know.”

“It’s Lyric,” Dawson repeated.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Do you know a place or not?” Asa asked.

Dawson sat straighter and picked up his sandwich. “I don’t, but I’ll keep my ears open.”

“Thanks.”

Dawson wouldn’t spread gossip, but Asa hoped his friend would find something. It would give him a reason to call Lyric. Until then, he needed to figure out what he’d say if he did find a place for her.

On their way out of the bakery, Asa asked Tracy and the other baristas if they knew of any places to rent around town, but he didn’t have any luck. He’d also asked at the bank and the post office before his shift ended. By the time he picked up Jacob from school, the odds of finding a place for Lyric were looking slim.

Thoughts of calling Lyric had taken over his brain, leaving no room for anything else in his head. He sat at the dinner table with his mom and Jacob and tapped his fork on the side of his plate.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Jacob asked.

Asa looked up to find his mother and Jacob staring at him. “What?”

His mother pointed to his plate. “You’ve been tapping your fork.”

No wonder he was a bad poker player. He had obvious tells. Tapping when he was thinking was one of the more annoying ones. “Sorry.”

“Tough day at work?”

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