Page 27 of Loving Josy
I force a smile, nodding a bit too quickly. "Yes. Why?"
She gives me that look that says she knows better. “Nothing, it’s just... you’ve seemed really distracted lately. You’re always in your head, and I was wondering if something happened that you haven’t told me about.”
I swallow, suddenly aware of the cleaning rag I’ve been twisting nervously in my hands. I try to meet her gaze, but it feels like she’s seeing right through me. "Umm, no, everything’s good." My voice wavers a little, and I know it’s not convincing.
Violet’s quiet for a moment, studying me with concern. I know I’m not fooling her.
“You know I am here, right?”
“Yes. Everything is okay, I promise.”
“Okay, I will let it go if you promise that you’ll will talk to me whenever you are ready.”
“I promise. I really appreciate that you are concerned about me, and I love you for that. But really, I am okay.” I don’t know if I want to convince Violet or myself. At my words Violet nods and smiles at me. “Well, I guess I will go and work on my computer. I need to finish creating the post for this week’s special.”
“Let me know if you need me. I will be right here. Not going anywhere.” Why am I being awkward. That’s why she knows something is going on. She is not stupid, but I can’t seem to tell her what is eating at me. If I do, it will make it real. And I don’t want to. I want to deny that I ever slept with Noah, and that he did not come to my house to tell me that he wants something other than friendship. I know that if Violet learns about this, she won’t stop pestering me. She won’t understand why I’m hesitant.
I glance around the shop, checking if we have any customers, but it’s empty. With a sigh, I pull my phone from my back pocket and open it to check our social media. Ever since Violet started her marketing plan, we’ve been gaining more followers. I love reading the comments about how much people enjoy our coffee and pastries. As I scroll through the latest posts, a text notification pops up.
My heart skips a beat when I see Noah’s name. Without thinking, I smile and open the message. I don’t understand my crazy self—I want him, but I don’t want him, and the push and pull is tearing me apart.
Noah: The work is complete. Can you come and do the final walkthrough with me?
Wow. I can’t believe he’s already finished. Just last week he still needed to work on the kitchen and bathrooms. This is exciting, more than I expected it to be.
Me: When do you need me to go?
Noah: Are you available later today? If not, we can meet tomorrow.
Me: I can’t today, but tomorrow sounds good.
Noah: Perfect. 10 am work for you?
Me: See you there.
Noah: See you, sweetheart.
I stare at the screen for a second longer than necessary, my heart doing that little flutter thing it does whenever he calls me “sweetheart.” Why does that word have such an effect on me? I close the text and tuck my phone away, my mind already racing ahead to tomorrow.
The thought of seeing him tomorrow lingers in my mind, making my heart race a little faster. When I glance up, I notice Violet sitting at a table, staring straight at me. We lock eyes for a moment, and I force a smile, trying to act casual.
Violet raises an eyebrow and shakes her head, giving me that familiar look like she knows exactly who I was texting just now. Her lips curl into a smirk, and her eyes narrow as if she’s silently saying, Really?
I can feel my cheeks heating up under her gaze. Busted.
I ignore her and keep to myself the rest of the day.
The closer I get to Sweet Springs, the more nervous I become. I’ve tried everything from deep breathing, listening to a podcast, an audiobook, and even put on some relaxing music, but nothing works. I’m too keyed up knowing that in just a few minutes, I’ll be standing in front of Noah for the first time since he gave me that gentle goodbye kiss on my porch.
I have no idea how I’m supposed to act once I get there. I’ve run through a few different scenarios in my head, trying to prepare myself, but it doesn’t help. My heart's racing, and I can’t seem to calm down.
When I pull up to the shop, the first thing I notice is the light pink paint I requested. It’s exactly how I imagined it. The shop looks great from the outside, and I’m so pleased. The crew installing the sign will be here next week. The tables, chairs, and decorations will start arriving soon after, and I’ll be able to open the doors in less than a month. It’s a lot of work, but I’m beyond excited. Stepping out of my car, I head toward the entrance, trying to prepare myself for two things: seeing the complete remodel of the place and, more importantly, coming face-to-face with the man who’s haunted my dreams since I was fifteen.
As I open the door, I’m hit by how much the shop has transformed. The walls that once made the space feel cramped are gone, replaced with a beautiful open space. The entire place feels open and inviting now, and the floors gleam like they’ve just been polished. It’s amazing what a little paint and some clean floors can do.
“Hi, sweetheart. What do you think?” Noah’s voice catches me off guard. I turn to see him standing there, the sight of him making my heart race. He’s wearing his usual black jeans and shirt, but today he’s added a backward hat, making him look even sexier. He’s also let his beard grow out since the last time I saw him, giving him a rugged, yet undeniably attractive look. That beard is dangerously distracting. It's not just a five o’clock shadow anymore; it’s a full-on beard, and somehow it makes him look even more handsome than before. Every time I see this man, he manages to leave me speechless. I try to play it cool, even though I’m dying inside. Ignoring the way he calls me sweetheart, I respond, “This is amazing, Noah. It doesn’t even look like the same place I rented last month.”
“That’s just the entrance. Wait until you see the kitchen and the restrooms. Come on.” He gestures for me to follow him, leading me toward the back of the shop where the restrooms are.
