Page 25 of The Overdue Kiss

Holt’s good eye bounces between us. “Okay. I have a leaky pipe to fix. I’ll see you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you, Maya.”

“Same.”

“Later, man,” Des says, his wave more of an afterthought.

As soon as we’re alone again, Felipe’s voice cuts in at the end of the song, and Des shoots me a sympathetic glance. He offers his hand.

“Wanna get out of here?”

Immediately I put my hand in his, and my skin sizzles at his fingers close around mine. “Absolutely.”

Chapter Seven

With her hand in mine, I lead her out the main door and into the silence of the night. The cool breeze refreshes my skin after being in the hot, stuffy bar.

“Better?” I ask, watching her face carefully. Whatever happened with her ex caused some emotional trauma.

“A thousand times. Thank you for being so understanding.” She glances down at our joined hands and slowly slides hers from mine. “Des, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me...” She hikes up her purse strap on her shoulder. “It’s just difficult to figure out where to start. It’s like opening an old wound that’s finally scabbing over.”

“Then please don’t feel pressured to explain until you’re ready. There isn’t any rush.”

Which is a half-truth. To be honest, I’m desperate to know anything about her. I can’t explain why this woman is so different from the others I’ve met. Instead of her attention pushing me away, it draws me in, comforting, like I’ve known her for years instead of days.

But my gut tells me that Maya will be worth the wait.

“Are you hungry? There’s a food truck over by the park,” I say.

She smiles halfway that says she’s still unsure. “I am a little hungry.”

“Well, I had a meeting during lunch, and now I’m starving. Mind if we head over there?”

Maya nods, her usual glow returning to her tan cheeks.

We cross Main Street and head down a side street to the grassy field where most community events take place. Normally the lush grass is covered with Rocosa residents, spread out on blankets or tossing frisbees. But since it’s after dark on a school night, there are only a few food truck patrons eating at the picnic tables.

As we walk, my brain registers the little things about Maya, jotting them down in my mental fact file. The way the streetlights highlight the caramel strands in her curly hair. The way she chews on her lower lip when she thinks. The way her shoulder bumps mine every few steps like she’s fighting the pull between us too. The way she always has a new pair of book earrings dangling from her tiny earlobes.

“How many book earrings do you have?” I ask, forgetting to filter.

“Oh.” Her fingers play with one of the books as she laughs. “A lot. I make them myself of all my favorite books. These are my six-star reads.”

“Six? I thought ratings only went to five?”

“That’s why these are special. If you see me wearing a book, it’s because I adored it.”

“You still never answered how many earrings you have.” I narrow my eyes and lean in. “Spill it.”

“I mean, why not? You must already think I’m a mess anyway.”

That stops me short.

“Maya, I don’t think that about you. I hope I’m not giving you that impression. I’m not really good in this department, so if I?—‍”

“What department?” She squints at me.

“Dating, I guess.” I rub the back of my neck. Is this a date? This feels more real than when I was with Farrah.

Apparently I said the wrong word because she leaps away as if I demanded her wallet at gunpoint.

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