Page 90 of The Things That Hold Us

Chapter Nineteen

the note

“Two shots of espresso, please.” I groan, leaning on the counter of the coffee shop.

Cassie just laughs at me, “Why so tired?”

I tell her how I went to Sarah's house, we fell asleep watching a movie, and then everything up to me panicking over clothes.

“So, you're going on a date with Logan?” she asks me.

“Yeah, I guess so? He didn't tell me where we are going though. He just said he’d pick me up at 7 tonight.”

She smiles, “I’m happy for you, this will be great.”

I make a face, “Will it? What if I mess up.”

“Mess up? How do you mess up a first date? And I mean, can you really consider this a first date? You two have already hung out, kissed, and slept in bed together.”

Icontemplate what she says for a minute.

“You have a valid point. But it’s still technically a firstdate. Where flirting is a given and being sweet is to be expected. The other times were just..” I pause, cause I don't know what the other times were.

“The other times were just you being you, and Logan being Logan.” she shrugs her shoulders all nonchalantly.

“Well, what if the pressure of it being a date makes me act weird?”

Cassie laughs, then hands me my coffee.

“Babe, just relax and be yourself. That man is smitten with you, I don't think you being weird would mess that up.”

I exhale, trying to relax.

“You're right. I’m just nervous.”

“When did you decide you wanted to date him?”

“Ok, first of all, we aren't dating. This is just a casual thing.'' I pause, “I’m still not ready for a relationship, but I don't know. There is just something about him that I can’t stay away from.”

She gives me a look, and shakes her head. “Well you better call me tomorrow with all the details. Dirty or not.”

I slap her shoulder jokingly, then tell her I’ll call later.

I have a few hours until I need to get ready, so I head to my shop to pack up some more things. I still need to figure out how I’m going to get everything moved over to the new location, and get that all set up.

It will probably be awhile before I’m up and running again, but that's ok. I want to make the new shop mine, and make it perfect, which takes time.

Charlie's Antiques had so many touches of Sam, and I loved it. But this is my chance to make it my own; put my touch on it. Of course I’ll still have some bits of Sam in it, but it’s still exciting to have something that's completely mine.

I’m going through boxes Logan managed to save that were in the back room, which I’m thoroughly confused as to how they weren’t destroyed in the fire. It’s mainly papers, and old receipts from sellers I’ve purchased from in the past. I’m not sure why I still have this box to be completely honest.

I pick it up to set it in the trash pile, and as I do a paper falls from the bottom.

I’ve never seen this before? It's a sealed envelope, with my name on it. My brows pinch together in confusion as I brush off the dust, and go sit on a pile of wood.

Carefully, I open the envelope.

A sob escapes me as I recognize Sam’s handwriting. It’s shaky, but it’s his.

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