Page 25 of Be With Me

I released an exasperated breath. “The point is that I’m way too old and entirely too busy to be sitting here wasting our entire lunch doing guesswork about a guy like we’re still fifteen or something.”

“Then why do you keep bringing him up?” Her expression was completely serious, but her eyes danced with humor.

I laughed. “Stop it. And I’m not bringing him up anymore. I’m going back to my life as usual.” I eyed her as I took a sip of my tea. It was time to turn the tables. My friend was hiding something from me. And for a woman who was usually an open book, it must be something juicy. “So! Who’s your hot date?”

Caught off guard, she choked on her food. Watery eyes looked up at me as she reached for her tea. I waited patiently while she took a drink and bought time to think up a good reason that I was pretty positive would have nothing at all to do with the real reason.

“It’s just a work thing.”

A work thing? She was an author. Most of the time she was holed up in her house in sweatpants and a stained T-shirt with her hair held back off her face by her headphones. “Like an office party?” I teased.

Stef leaned back in her chair and patted her full stomach. “I wouldn’t wear rhinestones to an office party. Even if I had an office.”

“Come on, Stef. Give it up. I’ve told you all my secrets.” I normally wasn’t this nosey, but I really needed something to take my mind off my own issues. “Spill.”

She gave me a shrug. “It’s really no big deal. I entered two of my books for an award and I needed something pretty. Just in case I win.”

I didn’t buy it. The only award ceremony I’d heard her say was worth entering took place during the summer, which meant there wouldn’t be another one until next year. Why would she be buying a dress for an event so far away? Anyone who had weight fluctuations—aka most women—knew better than to do that. “That’s your story?”

“Yup. And I’m sticking to it.” She grinned as she waved at the waitress to tell her we were ready for the check.

She dropped it on our table, thanking us for coming, and I grabbed it before Stef could. “Alright. But I want pictures, or it didn’t happen.”

“What didn’t happen?”

“Whatever—or whoever—it is that’s so scandalous you can’t tell me about it.”

We gathered our coats and purses and stood to leave. “You’re the only one with a scandalous love life, Ailee. Wait until your ex finds out you’re seeing someone half his age.”

I jabbed my arm into my coat sleeve at the mention of “He Who Shall Not Be Named” and made a face. “Just seeing the look on his face would almost make it worth it.”

“Please make sure I’m there when he finds out.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“You’re a true friend.”

On the sidewalk outside the restaurant, we hugged before Stef headed to her apartment to work for the rest of the afternoon and I made my way to the bus stop. Parking was always such a nightmare, I avoided driving into the city whenever possible. Why fight all the traffic when the bus had a direct route from my little town to the section of Seattle where Stef lived? It even had its own lane all the way into the city.

Halfway there, I passed by Whole Foods and decided to make a quick stop. My fridge was pretty empty and avoiding the grocery store on a weekend was something I strove for. Though I would probably have to make a run for the heavier items I didn’t want to lug onto the bus.

I made a face at the thought of two grocery trips in the same amount of days, eliciting a strange look or two from other customers. Smiling at them, I grabbed a basket and headed to the produce section. I was just rounding the floor display of avocados when I saw him.

Tyler was standing not twenty feet away from me, a basket hanging from one arm as he searched for the perfect orange.

Unsure of what to do or how to react, I stood frozen, watching him load up on citrus. When he stepped around to select from a different side, I noticed for the first time what he was wearing.

Tyler was dressed all in black from his head to his toes. His T-shirt was too big, baggy sweats with pockets on the legs hung low on his lean hips, and a black beanie covered his head. The only color was the white soles of his Converse and the words “Nope. Not Today.” on the front of his shirt. The look was strange on him, but not anything half the guys in the city weren’t wearing, albeit the younger crowd. Like, quite a bit younger.

I didn’t know why I hadn’t noticed how strangely he was dressed earlier. Or, maybe this was how he always dressed when he wanted to play it down. As I stared, trying to decide if I should put him on the spot and say hello or not, a tall, thin female with a head of cottony blonde hair joined him. She laughed when she saw the pile of oranges in his basket and grabbed his arm to drag him away.

Willow.

It had to be.

He pulled away from her to grab one more and added it to the basket. His eyes lifted and met mine across the groups of produce.

I smiled and gave him a little wave, trying to act natural.

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