Page 27 of Clumsy in Love

“More or less.” Holly shrugged. “Lived here all my life.”

“What are you going to tell people about why I’m here?”

“Beats me. The truth, I guess. You and me comin’ in here together will be all over town by nightfall anyway.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Cole said. “We don’t know who we can trust.”

“A, it’s not up to us.” She held up a finger. “We’ve been seen together, so stopping it now is impossible. And B, we can trusteveryone.”

“I’ll think about it.” He picked up a menu.

“You don’t understand.” She chuckled. “While you’re ‘thinking about it,’ news is already spreading. Fast.”

“Hm. Well, I guess it would be good to have extra eyes on the lookout for a stranger. Especially if he comes around asking for you.”

“You really think he’ll trek all the way up here just to threaten me?”

“Holly, if he comes all this way, it won’t be just to talk. This is serious business.”

Edna returned with a coffee carafe and filled their cups. “Know what ya want, honey?”

“Lumberjack omelet with a side of flapjacks,” Holly said.

“Dang.” Cole looked up from the menu. “That’s a ton of food.”

“I’m a growing girl.” Holly smiled. “We walk a lot. You’ll need fuel.”

“Guess I’ll have the same,” Cole said to Edna, who scribbled the orders on a small notepad and took their menus.

Already tired of the side-eyed whispers floating in her direction, Holly decided to nip the gossip in the bud. “Edna, will you do me a favor?”

“Name it, sugar.”

“This is Officer Cole Robinson from the NYPD. I witnessed something pretty serious, and we have reason to believe a really bad guy might come to town looking for me. That’s why Cole is here. Can you just let everyone know to keep an eye out?”

“Hispanic male. Mid-thirties. Short, cropped dark hair. And this ponytail thing on his chin that he wears in a braid. Ugly, but conspicuous. His name is Edwardo Cruz,” Cole added. “If you give me an email, I’ll have a picture sent over.”

“We’ll do whatever we can to keep you safe, sweetie pie.” Edna took two steps to the front counter, grabbed a business card, and returned. “Email’s on there, honey. I’ll get his picture printed up and spread the word,” she said before leaving to put in their order.

“That should set the record straight,” Holly said.

“Honey, sweetie pie, sugar?” Cole whispered. “Think she does that on purpose to make us want dessert?”

“I don’t know, but it’s working. They make thebestcoconut cream pie here. Remind me to ask for a slice to-go.”

“Good thing you can’t get cavities from words.”

Holly smiled. It fell immediately when Arthur approached the table. He was her dad’s best friend. “Oh, crap,” she muttered into her coffee.

“Holly, may I have a word?” Arthur glanced at Cole. “In private.”

“Um, sure.” Holly stood. “How about we go over here?” She pointed to an empty table in the corner and walked to it but didn’t sit. Hopefully, this conversation would be short enough not to warrant getting comfortable.

“I visited your dad this week,” Arthur said. “He asked about you.”

“Oh,” Holly said, unable to muster anything else.

“He said you haven’t been to see him or even written.” The indignation in his voice was hard to miss. “Didn’t even know you were engaged.”

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