Page 10 of Gone for You

“Yeah, I’d definitely be interested.” I don’t even have it in me to pretend otherwise or try to be coy. My head is nodding like it’s a damn bobble head and my smile is so wide my cheeks hurt.Obviouslyhe knows I’m interested. I’ve been sitting here staring at him for hours now, staking my claim, calling him my boyfriend, even though I had no right to.

Thankfully, his smile matches mine and Lily was so right. Hedoeshave a freaking amazing smile. Panty dropping, actually.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

He once again rests his elbows on the bar top, his fingers reach toward me, the tips grazing against my forearm. I swallow hard, goosebumps peppering my skin. Gah, his lips are sexy. Especially when he licks them and bites the bottom one, releasing it slowly. “Cool. Breakfast then.”

More nodding. I’m twenty-seven-years-old and I’m acting like I’ve just been asked to the dance by my crush. I want to smack myself in the face for how eager I must seem. In my defense, though, I’ve never felt this way about a guy before. This unexplainable connection that’s deeper than physical attraction. Something about him calls to me. Maybe it’s just lust but it feels like more. “Yes. Definitely breakfast.”

His thumb grazes the underside of my forearm. “Tomorrow morning.”

“Oh my gosh you two!” Lily groans. “Just freaking stop already! You’re going to make me throw up. You’re like middle schoolers arguing over who’s going to hang up the phone first.”

My lips press together and Ethan grins, sliding his phone over to me. I put my number in, he lifts it up, winks at me then turns to get back to work.

“Well tonight’s been interesting,” Lily muses, reaching for my hand. We make our way to the door together but not without one last glance over my shoulder. Ethan’s watching me, lifts a hand to wave.

“I am in soooo much trouble,” I murmur.

Chapter 3

Ethan

An old girlfriendof mine used to make me watchYou’ve Got Mailwith her all the time. She was obsessed with the entire movie, but especially one of the lines at the end. “I would’ve asked for your number and I wouldn’t have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you… for as long as we both shall live.”

I finally understand what Joe Fox, the character played by Tom Hanks, meant by that. It’s been less than eight hours since she walked out of The Flying Goat and I’m already anxious to see her again, hear her voice, talk to her. Up before the alarm on my phone even sounded, I whistled through my shower and first cup of coffee. It’s truly unfortunate that she lives hours away and I’m here in Liberty, Michigan for the long haul.

I’ve never believed in love at first sight, but man, I can’t get Liv out of my head. There’s something about her that calls to my senses and I have this yearning to learn more about her. It did that first night so long ago as well, but I couldn’t do shit about it then.

After lacing up my boots, I slide my arms into my green canvas jacket and, grab my keys off the hook by the door and head out to meet Liv. Even though I barely slept last night, I’m still wide awake, anxious to see her again.

Last night I could barely wait thirty minutes after she walked out the front door of The Goat before I texted Liv the time and place to meet this morning. She replied back instantly that it worked for her and she knew where I was talking about. I had to shove my phone in my pocket to stop myself from sitting around texting with her the rest of the night.

Arriving at the small diner ten minutes early, I settle in at a table along the windows. It’s a casual sit-anywhere-you’d-like place that has the best breakfast in town. And, I’d go against almost anyone who denies they also have the best coffee. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall and a local favorite.

A server greets me immediately, “Good morning. I’m Amber. Just one of you today?”

She’s carrying a carafe of coffee and lifts it in the air, silently asking if I’d like a cup. I turn over my cup that’s sitting on a saucer on the table. “Yes, please. And no, I have someone joining me.”

“Okay, I’ll be back once your friend arrives. Menus are right there,” she points to the plastic menus that are slid between the salt and pepper shakers and the condiments.

“Thank you,” I tell her, doctoring up my coffee with one of the tiny plastic tubs of creamer.

My leg bobs under the table as I stare at the door, open the menu, fiddle with it even though I already know what I’m getting. Pick up my phone and look at her last text.

Liv:Can’t wait.

It was simple. Two words. A smiley face.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve been on a first date, if I can even call this a first date, which makes me even more anxious for Liv to arrive.

Black stocking hat with a fuzzy pom on the top sits on her head, long waves of blonde hair fall over her shoulders over her black jacket. She stomps her feet on the rug by the door. She’s wearing skinny camo pants and snow boots that are lined with faux fur at the top where they hug her calves. She pulls off her mittens, stuffs them in her bag hanging from her shoulder and looks around. Spots me. Smiles and my heart… Fuck. It damn near stops.

She’s so beautiful.

Even more beautiful than the first time we met. Which is fucking bizarre. What are the chances that Olivia walked into my bar last night? I will never forget how pissed I was after learning that the girl from the parking lot was not only just seventeen but also completely off limits because she was also the little sister to one of my good friends. She was only there for the night and I never saw her again.

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