Page 15 of Tee the Season
I sink into my desk chair, the old leather creaking. “Congratulations on your winnings.”
“He was so sure Rory wouldn’t break his no seconds rule.” She’s practically crowing. “But I knew better. I saw the way you two were looking at each other at dinner.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal,” she repeats slowly. “Tabitha, the man who never sleeps with anyone twice spent the night at your place. And slept with you at least once, making that twice.”
I roll my eyes. “So?”
“So this is huge! Hays said Rory’s had the same rule for as long as he’s known him. One night, no repeats, keep it simple. And he broke it for you.”
I remember him this morning, standing in my kitchen. The way he’d fumbled with my pour-over setup, looking adorably lost. How I’d stepped in to help and our hands had brushed, and for one heart-stopping moment I’d thought he would kiss me right there against the counter. And maybe more.
“We’re just riding out the storm,” I say, trying to keep my voice level.
“Mm-hmm. And then what? You two just ride out the storm and pretend this never happened when he flies down to Texas?”
“Texas?”
“Yeah, he’s going to visit his sister, brother-in-law, and niece for Christmas.”
“Oh. Well, we haven’t exactly talked about the details, but that’s exactly my plan. Ride it out until life returns to normal.”
The pause that follows is so long I pull the phone from my ear to check if the call dropped.
“Leah?”
“I’m here. Just trying to figure out how to say this without you hanging up on me.”
“I’m not going to—”
“And you’re okay with that?” Her voice is gentler now, which somehow makes it worse. “With him leaving and that being it? Even though you two are clearly into each other?”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? We’re adults. We know what this is. And what it isn’t.”
“Do you?” There’s a note of challenge in her tone now. “Because you’re using yourI’m totally finevoice.”
“I don’t have a—”
“You absolutely do. It’s the same voice you used when you insisted you could handle everything Aunt Mae needed afterher stroke. And when you insisted you didn’t need help during the holiday rush. And now, you’re using it about a man who apparently makes exceptions for you.”
My jaw clenches. “I am not—”
“Tabitha.” She says my name like a sigh. “Dave from the post office has asked you out twice since my wedding.”
“Dave’s nice, but—”
“But he’s not Rory.”
The words land like a punch to the chest. I spin my chair to face the small window overlooking the alley, watching fat snowflakes swirl in the wind. The world is nothing but white and gray, everything buried under drifts.
“It doesn’t matter,” I mumble. “Rory’s life is suitcases and hotel rooms and cities I’ve never heard of. Mine is here. It’s always been and always will be.”
“So? Hays and I figured it out.”
We’ve been over this. “That’s different. You can travel with him. I can’t just abandon the bookstore. Or Aunt Mae—”
“I’m not saying you should,” Leah interrupts. “I’m saying maybe, you should stop deciding what’s possible before you even give it a chance.”
