Page 124 of When Fences Fall
“Please,” she scoffs, following me. “Your lips are swollen, there’s a hickey peeking out of your collar that you think I can’t see, and your red face is not from the cold.”
“I’m just allergic to something.” I should have put some makeup on before I left the house.
“Aha. Allergic to his beard, bish? He’s been sporting some decent scruff recently.” She puts her hands together like in prayer. “Just a bit. Tell me a little bit. My Kindle is broken, and I haven’t had a good romance for a week.”
I bite my lip, trying to suppress my smile and failing miserably. “Fine. Yes, we… spent the night together.”
She squeals, drawing curious glances from several customers. “I knew it! Was it good? He looks like he’d be good.”
“Karina!” I hiss, feeling my cheeks burn.
“What? It’s a valid question. Some guys look the part but don’t deliver.”
I busy myself wiping down the counter, avoiding her gaze. “I have no complaints.”
Her eyes widen. “That good, huh?”
Before I can answer, the bell over the door jingles again and Letty bursts in, unwinding a scarf from her neck.
“Sorry I’m late!” she calls, hurrying toward us. “Tony’s car wouldn’t start, and then we had to wait for the tow truck, and—” She stops, looking between us. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“We’re not,” I say quickly. “Karina was just leaving to take orders.”
“No, I wasn’t,” Karina protests, but I give her a gentle push toward the waiting customers.
“Yes, you were. Table six has been waiting for their check.”
Letty watches her go, then turns to me with a raised eyebrow. “What was that about?”
“Nothing,” I say, passing her an apron. “Just Karina being Karina.”
She studies me for a moment, then a slow smile spreadsacross her face. “Oh my God. You and the hot neighbor finally hooked up, didn’t you?”
“Why does everyone keep calling him that?” I groan, but I don’t deny it.
“Because he’s hot,” Letty says matter-of-factly. “And judging by your face right now, you know it too.”
I shake my head, laughing despite myself. “Don’t you have tables to wait on? You are late. Why is no one taking their boss seriously around here?”
“Fine, change the subject.” She grins, tying her apron. “But just so you know, the whole town’s going to find out by lunch.”
“The whole town can mind their own business,” I mutter, but I know she’s right. In Big Love, nothing stays secret for long, especially not something as juicy as this.
The morning rush keeps us busy, and I’m grateful for the distraction. Every time the bell over the door rings, my heart does a little skip, wondering if it might be him. It’s ridiculous—I saw him less than two hours ago—but I can’t help it. I keep catching myself smiling at nothing, my mind wandering back to last night, to this morning.
“Earth to Nora.” Karina waves a hand in front of my face. “You just poured coffee into Mrs. Wilkinson’s water glass.”
I blink, looking down to see coffee overflowing onto the counter. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” I grab napkins, mopping up the mess while Mrs. Wilkinson watches with amusement.
“Don’t worry, dear,” she says, patting my hand. “My Harold used to get that same dreamy look when we were first courting. I’d recognize it anywhere.”
My cheeks burn. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you don’t.” She winks. “And I didn’t see you coming out of that nice young man’s house this morning either.”
I freeze, napkins clutched in my hand. “You… what?” She lives up the street from us, closer to town and well out of view from our houses. So how she managed to see me is beyond my imagination.
“I was walking Pepper early,” she explains, referring to her ancient poodle. “We take the long way around on Tuesdays. Saw you sneaking out just after dawn.”
