Page 54 of Lorcan
We were finally at the other side of the street.
“Like Obi Wan Kenobi?” He laughed. “Star Wars was one of my favorite movies growing up. I’m still going to sayno.”
“So no Luke? Or Solo?”
He laughed. “No and no.”
We continued to walk down the street.
I eyed the grocery store. “I wonder if they’ve got a pie we might pick up. What’s your favorite flavor? I’m torn between blueberry and apple.”
“Both good choices—but you can’t forget pumpkin. That’s the best flavor.”
“Oh, true. I know a pumpkin farmer in town—which would be such a cool job. His mom bakes pies to sell at the Christmas fair. That’s in a week. Would you like to go?”
“For the pumpkin pie alone, I’d go.” He scrunched his nose.
“I’ll buy the pie. I have several gifts to pick up for my coworkers. And Aunt Genessa, of course.”
“I don’t—” He squeezed my hand. “I guess a little something for my coworkers would be nice. It’ll have to be cheap.”
Offering to front him the money—or to just give it to him outright—was on the tip of my tongue.You can’t be his savior. You can’t be his knight in shining armor. He’s got to show some indication of welcoming the helping hand.Which, to this moment, he hadn’t. But we’d been…a couple? Partners? Dating? Whatever the right word was, it’d barely been a day. The fact I was making Christmas plans in my mind—and the New Year as well—didn’t solidify us. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t run away as fast as he could if I pushed too hard. He was a rabbit—ready to hop away at the first sign of trouble.
I stopped. “Pumpkin.”
He halted as well. Then turned to face me. “Well, we can stop in after Fifties. I’d love a slice.” He patted his belly. “I don’t really need it, but—”
I snagged his hand and brought it to my lips. “Shush.”
He bit his lip.
“I meant—”God, is this the right call?I just didn’t know. “I meant…well, you might think I’m crazy…”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re the most-sane person I know. I’d say my lawyer is sane as well, but he took on my case, and I looked guilty as hell.”
“Your lawyer is a very smart man—and I’m grateful he got you acquitted. No, I meant what about Pumpkin?”
“What about pumpkin? We agreed it’s a good flavor.”
“I mean what if your puppy name was Pumpkin?”
He held my gaze for an interminable minute. Then two. The initial confusion was replaced by something I couldn’t quite identify. Finally, he grinned. “I love it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I really do. I mean, even more so because you suggested it. I never would’ve picked it—but I think you selected the perfect name.” He straightened. “Pumpkin. Pumpkin.” Clearly, he was trying it on for size.
And liking it.
We resumed walking.
A gust of wind coming from the north whispered through my hair. “I’m thinking snow is coming.”
“Ugh. At least most of the outside work on the houses we’re building are done so we’re inside. Can still be darn cold.”
“No heat?” I couldn’t imagine working without creature comforts.
“Well, we have space heaters, but it’s not quite the same. I’m not complaining.” He said that as if he was worried I might judge him.
