Page 40 of Need You To Choose Me

“Of course.”

I turn around and go toward the counter, thinking I was pretty sleek about the whole situation, when Mrs. Miller calls out, “Think about what I said!”

Yeah, how about no? I had my hands full as it is. I didn’t want to add a man to the mix.

Jessica fights a smile, one of her brows quirking. “Do I wanna ask?”

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Can I have some of those apple cobblers? They smell divine.”

“Oh, a craving?” Jessica asks as she grabs a box and starts putting the pastries inside.

“Maybe? It’s weird. I don’t even like cinnamon, but it smells so good, and I can’t get it out of my mind.”

“We can’t have that. Here.” She puts the box on the counter. “Anything else?”

Jessica’s been working part-time at Reading Nook while attending a local community college and was also part of our monthly book club, so we knew each other pretty well.

“No, I think I’m good. How have you been? Did your date go well?”

She sighs. “It was okay; nothing too spectacular.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, it is what it is, I guess.”

We chat for a few more minutes before I grab my order and get back on the road. My feet were killing me after a whole day,and I couldn’t wait to sit down on my porch, lift my legs up, and eat that cobbler.

It doesn’t take me long to get to Grams’ house.My house. It was still hard to think of it as my home. The sun is low on the horizon, the last golden rays illuminating the two-story house as I park in front of it and slide out, grabbing my things.

I look at the place with a critical eye. The house was run down with color peeling and wood creaking with every step, but I could see the beauty it once held, and I planned to bring it back to what it once used to be—with shiny white walls, cherry red shutters, and flowers. Grams loved flowers.

Entering the house, I drop my things in the living room and beeline for the kitchen, where I grab the spoon. Too giddy to wait any longer, I open the box, dip my spoon into the cobbler, and take a big bite. My eyes fall shut as I slowly chew, savoring the delicious taste.

“Damn, that’s good.”

Box in hand, I pad back outside so I can sit on the swing and enjoy some peace and qui?—

My brows furrow as I come to a sudden stop.

Something’s not right.

I pull my brows together as I look around, trying to figure out what exactly caught my attention. Everything seemed to be in order. The swing was in the corner, throw pillows tossed around. The plants I bought are sitting on the side, waiting for me to put them in their place.

“You’re imagining thi—” I shake my head at myself and go toward the swing when it hits me.

The quiet.

The floorboards weren’t creaking.

That’s what was missing.

My gaze falls to the porch, my eyes narrowing as I move a few steps to one side before I go a few steps to the other.

Still nothing.

And did they look darker somehow?

I turn around, my gaze still glued to the floor. If one of my neighbors were to come out and see me, they’d think I was crazy.

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