Page 230 of Small Town Firsts

I can feel my cheeks heat to near nuclear levels. “I’m fine,” I squeak.

“That you are. Got a name?”

My knees threaten to drop me on my ass, not out of attraction, but fear. All at once, it dawns on me how close this giant, strange man is. He could do anything to me, and I’d be helpless to defend myself. He’s built like a brick shithouse, nearly three times my size.

“Um.” My entire body shakes as I back away from him.

“Hey, whoa.” He holds his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you, sweets. You’re safe.”

I don’t realize I’m crying until he reaches out and wipes away my tears.

Is it possible to die from humiliation?I scoff at myself. I know good and well it’s not, because if it were, I’d have been six feet under long ago.

“S-s-sorry,” I stammer out the single word, wishing like hell I could teleport myself back to the safety of my suite.

Mr. Muscles smiles down at me in a way that’s far too soft for his size. “You’re good, no apologies needed.” He takes a small step back, his hands still held out in front of him. “Let’s try again. I’m Gabe, and you are?”

“Emmy.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Emmy.” He reaches out to shake my hand, but seems to think better of it and lets his arm drop before I can clasp his hand.

“It’s, um, nice to meet you, too. And I’m... really sorry for running into you.” I toe at the ground. “And I’m sorry for being such a mess, too.”

“What did I say? No apologies needed.” He winks. Any other guy, and I’d scoff, but somehow Gabe makes it work. “Am I allowed to ask where you’re headed?”

I hesitate to answer him, a fact that doesn’t escape him.

“Before you go thinking I’m a stalker, I’m only asking because I’m hungry and was hoping you’d do me the honor of joining me.”

I gulp, torn on how to reply. On one hand, Gabe’s intentions could be strictly platonic; on the other... well, I’m not even remotely prepared to consider the other. For a second it felt like he was flirting, but I’m so out of touch with anything resembling romance that I can’t be sure.

“Listen,” he says, leveling me with a look that’s as warm as it is stern. “No offense, but you remind me a little of a lost puppy, and I’ve never been able to resist feeding a stray. So, brunch, on me. No strings, no funny business. Just a meal between potential friends.”

I weigh his words, searching for the truth. When I don’t see as much as a hint of deception in his crystalline green eyes, I find myself accepting his invitation.

“I was actually on my way to eat, so um, I guess we could do it together. Eat, I mean. We could eat together.”

Gabe quirks a brow, like he’s not quite sure what to do with me.

That makes two of us, Mr. Muscles.

“Where were you headed?”

“Holy Roasters.”

He rumbles his approval. “After you.”

I shoot him a weak smile and resume walking.

“You’re a freshman, right?” Gabe asks.

“That obvious?”

He imitates a dog whimpering. “Little. Lost. Puppy.”

Indignation burns in my chest. “I was doing just fine until we collided.”

A deep, masculine chuckle is his only reply.

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