Page 135 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
Instead of my own, special space it feels more like a box I put myself in like I could pack away my feelings for Spencer and pretend they don’t exist.
But fuck, they do. There’s no escaping them.
What do you do when you love one man, but you might be in love with another?
CHAPTER 52
HARLOW
My back might be turned from the door, but I know the moment Spencer walks into Cool Beans. The entire atmosphere changes. I turn around and Poppy sends a smirk my way, mouthing, “Magnets.”
I ignore it and smile at Roe as she runs up to the register. “Look, Mom! I got my arm back.” She twists her cast free arm this way and that. “I’m free!”
“How does it feel?” I ask her, taking her hand to inspect her arm.
“Weird.” She wrinkles her nose. “My arm feels naked even though it’s not. I mean, technically itisnaked, but you don’t wear clothes on your arms unless it’s long-sleeve and then?—”
“Take a breath,” I remind her, and she immediately pulls in a lungful of air.
Luckily, it’s a pretty dead time at Cool Beans. Even still, some of the patrons are staring at Spencer in disbelief.
I point to his hoodie and baseball cap. “Your disguise isn’t working.”
He sighs and pulls the baseball hat even lower. “Would you prefer a fake mustache and wig?”
“It might throw people off more,” I joke.
He gives Roe’s shoulder a small squeeze. “Grab us a seat, sweetie.”
She scurries over to one of the empty tables.
“Thanks for picking her up and taking her. I know you’re busy.”
“I’m her dad. I won’t let my job get in the way of that.”
Even still, I’m sure he faced some sort of strife for not being on set today.
“You want coffee?” I ask.
Before he can reply, Poppy says, “Even if he says no, I’m already making it.”
He chuckles and pulls out his wallet to pay. “And a brownie for Roe. She deserves it. It freaked her out when they went to remove the cast, but she’s a trooper. Didn’t even cry.”
He taps his card to pay and then drops a fifty in the tip jar.
“How are you?” he asks me.
I know he’s not asking how my day is.
“I’m good,” I reply.
I suppose that’s true. I’m as good as I can be, considering the circumstances.
“Still got a boyfriend?” he asks curiously, voice low so he’s not overheard.
“Yes.”
He nods at this news and lifts his head, holding eye contact with me. “For how much longer?”
