Page 20 of Nailed

Was I late? I glanced at the clock. It was just after seven in the morning. I stumbled out of bed, nearly tripping on my sheets, which were tangled in my legs.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

“I’m coming!” I exclaimed, stumbling again.

I pulled open the door, peeking around it and rubbing my eye with my fingers.

Jamie had one arm raised in mid-pound, his other cradling a paper bag.

I smiled. I was sleepy and still half dreaming but filled with warmth to see his big brooding frame standing there, even if he had the scowl of all scowls on his face. He was wearing a navy suit and white shirt and had shaved this morning. God, he was almost painfully handsome.

“Morning, Jamie.”

“What are you doing still asl—” He cut himself off as I pulled open the door all the way.

“It’s awfully early to be banging like that, don’t you think?”

Jamie had looked like he was about to say something, but his eyes were now traveling down my body.

He looked back at me, his jaw clamped shut.

I pulled the shirt I’d been sleeping in tight around me, self-conscious.

My stomach tightened. He wasn’t speaking again.

It was the hug. He couldn’t forget it after all.

“I brought you this,” he said, finally. The words came out clipped.

Hurt thrummed through me. Last night, I’d tried to remind myself that he was still a dick, even if he wasn’t being one that night. But I’d wanted so badly to be wrong.

Except… Jamie held up the coffee cup and little bag in his hand. I took them, peering inside the bag. It looked like—

“Flat white and a chocolate zucchini muffin.” His voice was gruff. “Had to call the place to see if they had them.”

“You called the coffee shop for me?” I was still confused, but a spark of hope flared now. Maybe he hadn’t fully regressed. I remembered Sam talking about how Crestville was the coffee capital of Maine. Jamie had rolled his eyes in the front seat. But he’d been listening.

“Which one did you go to?” I tried to read the label on the cup, but my hand was in the way, and I couldn’t adjust it while I clutched the bag.

Jamie mumbled something that I swear sounded likeall of them.

“Anyway,” he grunted, “I have to go. I’ve got a packed schedule so… good luck today.” He looked like he deeply regretted coming here. “Don’t sayum.Watch where you’re walking. And for God’s sake, speak up.”

“Thanks for listing out all my insecurities,” I tried to play it like that hadn’t stung. “But you’ll be there, though, right?”

Jamie’s temple pulsed. “I’ll do my best.”

I swallowed, my heart pinching in my chest. Maybe if I was more awake, I’d have gotten angry that he was being a dick again. But right now, I was just… heartbroken.

“Sure,” I said.

But just as I was closing the door, Jamie turned back, coming up close as a man in a suit walked by. I tried not to inhale his familiar scent.

“Cooper.”

“Yes?”

“Remember that time I loaned you my shirt?”

---