Page 35 of Honey Bee Library
I spent most of my morning avoiding Cole. If he came into the room, I found a reason to leave. Most times, the only place I could go was inside my office, where I would stay until I felt like enough time had passed, and then I would sneak out.
Brody gave me side-eye one too many times as I tiptoed past him, but I just brushed him off. He needed to mind his business. I was trying to survive.
By the time the lunch rush was over, I was ready to collapse on my couch. Not only was my job a strenuous one, but with the addition of conflicting feelings for the co-owner, I was a mess.
I needed to get my head on straight.
“Everything okay?” Breia’s voice had me snapping to attention.
I was currently leaning against the far booth, staring at the dirty table in front of me but not moving to clean it. I glanced over at her as I forced my brain to start working. Breia had the nose of a bloodhound. She could smell drama from a mile away.
“Yep, fine,” I said, a bit too loud, as I reached forward and started gathering the used napkins on the table. When she didn’t leave right away, I glanced behind me. “Why?” I asked, forcing a smile to hopefully throw her off the scent.
She was studying me with her eyebrows drawn together. “You’re acting strange again.”
I feigned surprise as I dumped the trash in the grey bin I’d brought from the back. “I am?” I asked, gathering the plates.
“Yes, you are.”
“What am I doing?” I set the plates next to the pile of trash in the bin.
“You’re sprinting out of the room every time Cole comes in.” She leaned in. “Did something happen between you two?”
Crap. She’d noticed. And I had been determined to throw her off theWillow and Cole, sitting in a treescent she’d been on yesterday. “I am not sprinting out of the room every time Cole comes in.” Denial seemed like the only option. “I just…have things to do.” I shrugged. “It’s just a coincidence that I remember I have to do those things as soon as Cole comes in.” I chuckled, trying desperately to convince her that everything was in her mind.
Breia folded her arms. “Willow.” Her voice was low and threatening. It reminded me of the tone I used when I knew Jasper was lying to me.
“What?” Great. Now I sounded like Jasper.
She was quiet for a moment. “You know you can tell me, right?” She held up her hands. “I’m not going to judge, and I can keep a secret. The stuff yesterday, that was just teasing.”
If my issues had involved anyone but Cole, I would have told her everything. But it wasn’t just some random guy. It was Cole, her boss. My life was so intricately woven with his, and I hated that. He’d infiltrated my world and left me with no one to talk to.
It would be a bigger problemifI had something I needed to talk to someone about. Which I didn’t. There was nothing going on between Cole and me. We were just…
Well, I didn’t know what we were, and there was no way I could work through those thoughts with people who worked with both of us. It was best for me to just ignore my confusing feelings and act like nothing was wrong. It would keep me safe.
I forced a smile. “Really, Breia, there’s nothing to tell. Things between me and Cole are fine.” I paused. “Mundane even.”
“Mundane?”
At the confused tone in Breia’s voice, I instantly regretted saying that. I wanted to appear aloof, but the words I’d used seemed to have the opposite effect. I feared what she would think if I kept talking, so I decided to play it cool.
I finished gathering the dishes and then lifted the tub to rest on my hip. I straightened, glanced over at her, and smiled. “Mundane. Boring. Nothing to report,” I said as I sidestepped her and headed to the kitchen.
Breia didn’t follow after me as I pushed through the swinging door. I kept my head down and headed toward the dishwasher. Just as I neared the sink, someone stepped in front of me and lifted the tub from my hip. Their hands brushed mine, and I startled, almost dropping the tub as I whipped my gaze up to see Cole.
“Let me,” he said, his voice low as he took most of the weight.
I wanted to protest. I wanted to tell him that I could do this, that I didn’t need his help, but the words weren’t coming out. Instead, I just stood there while he gently took the tub from me and set it down next to the sink.
For the first time, my brain registered that the faucet was on. I’d missed that he was working back here, entirely. I’d been too distracted by my conversation with Breia, and I’d let my guard down. All the work I’d put into avoiding Cole had been for naught because I was once again heading down the windy road that was the confusion I felt toward this man.
I just wished he’d give up on this diner already and go back to Florida.
“Um, thanks,” I said as I turned to leave. If he wanted to take care of my dishes, who was I to stop him? He didn’t need me around.
I’d almost gotten far enough away to breathe normally again, when he called after me. I thought about pretending not to have noticed, but I wasn’t a child. I could face him like an adult.
