Page 21 of Here With Me

Romee: Have you guys made up? Are you hiding in the office making out?

Sadie let out a breath and shook her head. Unbelievable.

Sadie: You’re ridiculous.

Romee: Details, please. *gif of Puss in Boots with pleading eyes.

Sadie: No details.

Sadie: But…

Romee: *gif of Ham talking to Scotty saying, “You’re killing me, Smalls.”

Sadie: He brought me coffee.

Romee: *gif of Thor throwing a coffee cup on the floor yelling “Another!”

Sadie tucked her phone away as David stepped up to the glass counter. Sadie showed him where she wanted it to go. She’d already emptied it this morning, taking out the things they kept stored in there—knives, spray paint, ammo—so it would be easier to move. She’d stacked it all against the wall in her office to keep them safe.

She also had new shelves to install. She’d ordered them before she knew about the bank loan, and since they were non-refundable, she might as well use them.

David quickly set to work, moving the few remaining items that needed to be moved. “How do you want to do this?” he asked about the counter. “I can take one end and you the other?”

Sadie quickly agreed. Their polite and professional demeanors easily stayed in place.

They moved the counter over, and Sadie picked up Windex and paper towels when David offered to clean the glass.

“Do you want the items back in here?” He pointed at the empty case.

“If you remember where it all belongs, but I’m happy to put it back in.” Sadie stepped out of the way as David came forward and picked up some spray paint. His arm brushed hers, and even though she wore long sleeves, goosebumps rose along her arm.

Ugh. Could she not stay out of his way?

“I remember.” David’s warm chocolate eyes sought hers out. “I remember a lot.”

Oh no. No, he did not. Heat radiated through Sadie. Very unprofessional words sprang to her lips, but she forced them closed, pulled them between her teeth.

Leave the past in the past.

Sadie let out a deep breath and shook her head. It would be easier to walk away from that. Not take the bait. She headed toward the office. Maybe she could figure out something that would save the store.

Don’t stir up drama, Sadie reminded herself as she continued to her office.

“Walking away again?” David’s quiet voice might as well have been a knife thrown at her back.

That’s it. Forget it. Those rules were stupid, anyway. Spinning around on her heel, she marched back to him.

“I didn’t walk away. You left.” She crossed her arms, hugging herself, to keep from jabbing her finger into his chest.

“I didn’t leave you. You refused to talk about our future and broke up with me.” David stepped closer. His manly, clean scent was the same one she remembered from all those years ago, invading her space just as much as his physical presence.

“Oh no. Don’t you blame this on me.” Sadie stepped closer, looking up at David, finally jamming her finger into his chest.

His very solid chest.

He didn’t even have the decency to wince at her jab. But poking him had hurt her finger. She dropped her hand rather than shaking it out. “You’re the one who changed our plans for the future without even talking. Then just sprang a new idea on me and told me to get on board. Or else.”

David scoffed. “I didn’t say it like that.”

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