Page 33 of Fall Apart

When I said to change out of her pajamas, this isn’t what I had in mind. Pink leggings, a matching pink cropped sports top, a cropped hoodie, fluffy white earmuffs, and furry boots hardly seem practical with today's weather.

“Seriously? Do you own any tops that cover your stomach? You realize this is a ski town right and it’s still cold as hell?”

“Whatever. Don’t be such a baby. You were the one out running in shorts this morning. Come on, let’s go inside.”

She’s got me there.

When I walk into Finch, still in my running outfit, I see Hannah behind the counter. She cocks her head and gives me a curious smile, looking up at the clock and then back at me.

“I must be seeing things because you never break your routine,” she teases.

I grab the back of my neck. “Yeah, today isn’t routine.” Hannah laughs until Lizzy walks in the door and comes out from behind me, finding a seat at the counter against the window. Hannah’s eyes go wide and she grins.

“I think you already know Lizzy,” I say, my voice awkwardly ticking up a notch.

Lizzy waves from her seat to Hannah before turning to me. “I’ll take my usual.”

I nod and walk to the counter where Hannah is still sheepishly grinning at me. “What?”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you here with someone besides your sister or Kayleigh.” I palm my face and groan in frustration.

“No. It’s not likethat.” It’s too late and I can feel my cheeks start to heat with embarrassment, like I’m being caught redhanded by my sister or something.

“Ok, Clay.” She props herself up on the counter, still grinning. “So two nitros and her chocolate croissant?”

I nod and tap my card on the reader.

After grabbing our order, I walk over to Lizzy and sit next to her. She lifts her eyes from her phone and smiles wide when I set the coffee and food in front of her.

“Thank you!” She beams, grabbing the cold coffee and taking a way too eager gulp. She closes her eyes and exhales deeply. “Sorry about before. I amnota morning person. I definitely get hangry and snarky when I haven’t had coffee or food.”

“Really?” I prop myself up on one elbow and quirk an eyebrow at her. “I thought snarky was your thing twenty-four-seven.”

She rolls her eyes before taking a bite of her croissant, letting out the quietest whimper that sends blood straight below my waist again.

Jesus. What is it with her?

“These aresogood,” she says, wiping a crumb off her lips. She eyes me again, but with curiosity this time. “So. Books. Romance books. Smutty romance books.” She looks like she’s about to burst from excitement, clearly ready to continue my misery.

“Yeah, and?” I answer, my tone shorter than I wanted it to be.

She holds a hand out, gesturing up and down at me again. “You, Mr. Tall, Gruff, and Grumpy, come in here, buy, read and collect smutty romance books?” She props herself up on her elbow, matching my pose, but tapping one very pink fingernail against those pouty lips, looking right back at me.

I groan. “Can we please not? I already told you.”

A soft giggle escapes her lips. “Nope, I feel like torturing you today after you flooded my condo. So, tell me more.”

I grab my coffee and take a long drink. “Well first, I already told you that I don’t like people. Books are fun and don’t let you down.” I take a deep breath, looking out the window at Main Street before turning back to Lizzy. “And second, like I said before, Utah has shitty porn laws and smutty novels are so much better. And lastly, I don’t really date.”

“You don’t seem like the type to have a problem finding a date, even with your scowls and charming disposition,” she says, smiling softly before looking back down at the counter. “You definitely had no issue picking me up at the bar.”

“You were an exception.” Her eyes meet mine, contemplating that statement before I chuckle.

“Seriously, how are you single? Employed, knows how to decorate, a sense of style,this.” She eyes me up and down.

I feel my jaw tense and my forehead crease. “I don’t need people. I’m fine by myself.”

She looks at me like she wants to pry more, but thankfully doesn’t.

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