Page 78 of Falling for You Again

“Not too humid yet,” she says.

“I wish it was pouring.”

Before the woman can comment, the light changes and we’re moving across the road among a gelatinous mass of people rushingto work. The woman disappears into the crowd, and I angle toward the coffee shop, my eyes meeting Aaron’s when I pass the window. He lifts a hand in a listless wave. I wave back, but I do so with the hand holding our divorce papers. The movement is infinitesimal, but Aaron physically deflates. His eyes, his mouth, his shoulders ... Everything sags. His hand flops onto the table like a dead fish.

A cheery bell tinkles a welcome when I open the door. I cross the café to Aaron. He stands and pulls me into a full-body hug, his arms surrounding me. I’m not expecting this, or how my head naturally tucks under his chin where it’s a splendid fit. I can feel him from cheek to knees. I think I even sigh.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers into my hair.

From habit, I lift my arms to return his hug, then remember myself. I step back. He folds his arms tightly over his chest. “That was weird. Was that weird?”

I glance down at the envelope I’m carrying.

“I shouldn’t have done that. Said that ...” His voice trails off.

“It’s fine. Let’s just ...” I gesture at the table, again with the envelope.

“I bought you coffee,” he says as we sit. He’s nervous. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands. He picks up his mug with enough force to dribble on his shirt. “Shit.” He wipes his hand down his chest, spreading the stain into the cotton to blend with specks of sawdust he picked up from my coveralls when we hugged.

Any other day, I’d rip open the sugar packets and simultaneously pour them into my coffee. But I can’t stomach caffeine right now. Aaron isn’t the only one who’s nervous. Our first divorce was much easier than this.

I leave the coffee untouched and slide the envelope across the table. He stares at it like it’ll leap up and bite off his nose.

“How’s the shop? Did you find a new location?”

I shake my head. “It’s closing. Uncle Bear’s been avoiding me. He won’t transfer ownership.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“No. If you don’t mind signing.” I nudge the envelope.

“What are you going to do? Where are you going to work?”

“Stone & Bloom, probably. Emi says they have a senior cabinetmaker position opening up soon.”

His brows furrow deeply. “That’s the last thing you want to do.”

“I don’t have much choice. I need to work and it saves me time looking for a job at another shop.” And working at the same company as Emi, Shae, and Tam is a bonus. They’ll keep me distracted and my mind off the man sitting across from me.

“Work with me, Meli. Let’s go into business like we talked about. We could do amazing things together.”

I imagine we could. But how long would it last before I grow frustrated because his focus is on his new baby and not our business? As selfish as that makes me sound, I don’t want to feel like I’m competing for his attention. I was on the receiving end of that resentment and envy with Paul.

“Please sign.” I put a pen on the envelope.

“Meli . . .”

I shake my head, looking down at the table, bouncing my knee.

He doesn’t reach for either the pen or envelope.

“You look good,” he says, and I realize what he’s doing. He won’t outright try to change my mind or manipulate me into a decision I might disagree with. Not again. No, he’ll just sit here with me, reminding me how magnetic we are together. “How are you?”

“Aaron, don’t.”

“Don’t what? Ask how you’re doing? Let you know I still care? I care so much,” he says, impassioned.

I shake my head. I don’t want to hear this because I know he won’t always feel that way.

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