Page 68 of Pinch of Love

Maya laughed and nodded. “That she is.”

“What was she surprised about?”

“That you’d do casual.”

My chest tightened, and I looked away.

I wanted to explain that I only wanted to be casual because that’s all she wanted.

I wanted to tell Maya that I’d try for so much more if she’d let me.

I wanted to talk to her about my life.

Before.

And how I wanted my life now.

I wanted a lot.

Until I realized that I’d probably scare Maya off. She had enough to deal with, and she certainly didn’t need to think about me.

“So why would she say that?” Maya pressed. “You kind of hinted that you didn’t do relationships.”

“I don’t,” I agreed. “Or I haven’t for a long time.”

I brought my eyes to hers and drew a breath. “But bumping into you did something a little unexpected to me.”

She frowned and tipped her head. “What do you mean? I’m not following.”

“There’s no reason you would.” I kicked out my legs.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Maya offered, seeing the discomfort settling around me.

I straightened and crossed my leg over my knee and bounced it nervously.

“I probably should.”

Maya scooted her leg off the couch and propped it on the ottoman. “Slide over closer.”

I chuckled. “You don’t do this with your other clients, do you?”

She grinned. “You’re not a client. You’re a friend.”

A distraction.

A friend.

I was climbing up in the world.

As I scooted over, she held up her hand. “But I have to apologize immensely.”

“For what?”

“All the garlic I ate.”

I laughed and shook my head. “I don’t smell any garlic.”

And it was true. I only smelled the sweetness I’d come to know as Maya.

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