Page 79 of The Fire Walker
“Well, you know you have a job here for as long as you wantit.”
“Thanks, Ed. I really appreciatethat.”
“If you want to pick up more shifts, let me know, and I’ll see what I cando.”
“Really?” I beamed. “Thankyou.”
“No problem.” He looked around the cafe and then leaned in close. “What about yourman?”
“Dee?”
“Where does helive?”
Frowning, I paused, my hands still in the sink. “Australia… Hisband...”
“You going withhim?”
The glass slipped from my fingers andclinkedagainst the others at the bottom of the sink. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Dee’s life was in Australia. He couldn’t leave the band. I would never ask him to do that, knowing how much it meant to him, but to go with him? Leave New York and move to Australia? The idea seemed scary and thrilling all at the sametime.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “It’s still early days yet. He’s still got two months or so on his work visa. I assume he’s going to stay until then, and we’ll work itout.”
Ed watched me with a strange look in his eye like he knew something Ididn’t.
“What?” I asked, flicking him with soapbubbles.
“You’re so fucking in love,” he said, holding his hands over hisheart.
“Duh.” I rolled myeyes.
Laughing, Ed stood to his full height as some customers came in the door. “It’s almost four,bella. Go getsome.”
Finishing off the last of the glasses in the sink, I went out back to get my jacket. When I pushed back through the door into the cafe, my eyes fixed on a familiar face. I stopped dead in my tracks, heart thumping, and it took me a minute to realize it was a stranger. Being here distracted me, but deep down in the place where I pushed things I didn’t want to deal with was that familiar feeling.Fear.
Seeing those messages earlier had shaken me. Nate had violated the restraining order, but it could be that it was already expired. If he kept sending them...my hands were tied. I knew I couldn’t do anything about it. If I pursued police action, then everything I’d ever worked for would be taken from me, and I would be on the street again. What was I meant todo?
I would be okay at Couch with the guys—I felt safe here. Dee would already be out front if he weren’t already in here somewhere. I wouldn’t be alone, and it would be less likely that something would happen if I were always withsomeone.
I would never keep anything from Dee again, and I would tell him the whole story. Tonight at dinner, I would bare my soul like I’d bared everything else. I was in love with Dee Cosgrove, and he had my soul if he wanted it.Forever.
Opening the door, I stepped out onto the sidewalk, and my head lifted when I heard a sharp whistle. Dee stood across the street, hands jammed into the pockets of his denim jacket. He was wearing those aviator sunglasses that made him look so delicious, a stupid grin on his face, and it was a wonder I could function properly. It was so cliché saying that I felt weak at the knees, but that was exactly what he did tome.
Smiling, I stepped off the sidewalk and looked for oncoming traffic. I wanted to launch myself into his arms and kiss him until I couldn’t breathe. He was mine, and I washis.
And the best part? We had our whole lives ahead ofus.
