Page 41 of Forever Fickle

Karen winced, realizing that she’d called Jace a friend at least three times in the space of a single breath. Sure enough, she glanced at him to see him frowning slightly, looking at her.

“Well, we sure appreciate it,” she smiled. “Two specials?”

“What’s the special?” Jace asked politely.

“Whatever I choose, Hot Stuff,” the woman smiled, nodding at Karen before walking off… surprising the both of them. He looked stunned and truthfully, she expected the woman to talk to him or flirt with him even though she was there.

Jace was an awfully handsome guy… and now holding her hand?

Karen looked at where her hand rested on the table and saw he was indeed holding it, his thumb rubbing over her knuckles tenderly as he looked around. She didn’t comment on it or try to pull away, rather just enjoying the feeling of connection that it seemed to give her.

“So, what’s the special?” Jace repeated again after a moment, looking around at the other booths that were filling up quickly.

“That woman, Mimi, owns the place and makes everything from scratch… so you get pancakes and whatever she can serve with it. Everyone gets the same thing. No special orders, no substitutions. It’s ten bucks a plate and a massive amount of food… probably some of the best I’ve ever had.”

“Really?” Jace smiled, taking a deep breath and sighing happily, glancing at the other tables to see what they all had. “I think it’s scrambled eggs.”

“Ahh…” Karen met his smile and felt herself relax into the moment, grateful that he was amendable to this crazy, rushed date that she’d sprung on him.

He looked utterly adorable with a little tuft of hair sticking up on the side from where he’d been sleeping… and she wouldn’t change it for the world.

“Thank you…” she whispered, giving his hand a slight squeeze.

“I should be thanking you,friend,” he countered playfully, using her description and words. He reached over with his free hand to take her other one in his, as he leaned in, watching her. “I’m really glad you did this – and that you are sharing one of your favorite places with me.”

“You are gonna be sick of hanging out with me by the time you fly out of here on Monday…” she laughed nervously and saw him shake his head slightly.

“No, somehow I don’t think so.”

“You’re going to go back to Ghazni, to your life, and school will be starting. Out of sight, out of mind… and then what?” she began and then hesitated. “Actually, don’t answer that. I shouldn’t have said that – any of that – because we are just now becoming friends while you are here and that’s the end of it.”

“But what if it’s not?” Jace said quietly, holding her hands. “What if I wanted to continue talking with you, communicating with you, being a part of your world? You might be out of my sight, but I can tell you for a fact that you are never out of my mind…”

His voice was achingly soft as his eyes held hers.

“This is crazy,” she breathed fearfully, her eyes searching his, looking for any glimpse of hesitation, falsehood, or doubt.

“I know it is,” Jace whispered, undeterred. “I keep thinking the same thing, waiting for something to go wrong or something to happen, and every time I turn around… I find myself thinking about you.”

“Alrighty,” Mimi said in a sing-song voice, interrupting them. “Breakfast is served, you two love-birds…”

Jace and Karen looked at each other and immediately released each other’s hands, startled at the woman’s words and their meaning. Before either could comment or say a word to the other’s startled expression, Mimi was interrupting again.

“Maple, regular, or Strawberry syrup?”

“Regular,” they said in unison, looking at each other again.

Karen was barely aware of the massive pancakes in front of her, along with a pile of scrambled eggs that were steaming hot. They smelled so fragrant and there was a sinfully large square of butter on top of the pancakes, just melting away… but she couldn’t look away from Jace.

His expression, while frightened and slightly alarmed… looked hopeful as he reached over the table to take her hand. This time he laced his fingers with hers, instead of just holding it gently.

“Would you like to see a movie tonight or have dinner with me?”

“Are you cooking again?” she retorted softly, scared to answer him, because it didn’t feel like a friend asking another friend out – it felt different hearing him say it this time for some reason.

“I’d be happy to…”

“I’m only teasing,” she countered nervously.

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