Page 22 of Make Me Swoon

“I love working here, but once she got to town, it wasn’t the job that I was excited about. Sutton was the one that I came to see every day. No offense,” he says to Stan and I laugh at Stan’s less than impressed face.

Stan just snorts and rolls his eyes so Teller continues.

“She was the first person that I thought about when I woke up and the last one before I fell asleep. She makes things better, makes me a better man. Definitely makes Stan and this place better,” he teases and I laugh as Stan glares at him.

His answer leaves me feeling dissatisfied and even more confused. If that’s love, then I’ve either been in love a hundred times before or not at all. It has to be more than that.

I’ve felt connected to dates before, been excited about new crushes. That wasn’t love, obviously. None of them were right for me. Is love just those feelings but stronger?

“Is this about that Hudson fella?” Stan asks and I’m surprised that he knows about that, but I play it off with a shrug.

“Yeah, how are things going between you two?” Teller asks and I grab some more mugs, lining them up on the shelf.

“Good, I guess. I mean, we’ve only been out on the one date, so it’s not that serious.”

I see Stan and Teller share a look with each other out of the corner of my eye and I wonder what they know that I don’t.

“How do youfeelabout Hudson?” Teller asks and I pause to think about it.

“Connected,” I whisper, but I know that they hear me. “There’s chemistry there, like you said.”

“But…” Stan asks and his surly, impatient attitude makes me smile.

“But I’ve felt connected to other guys before him. It didn’t mean anything those times so I’m not sure that it means anything this time.”

“Do you feel more connected to Hudson? Or is it the same as when you went out with those other guys?” Teller asks.

“More,” I whisper, twisting a coffee mug around in my hands.

“Then maybe you should see where this goes,” Stan says quietly.

“Maybe,” I say, finishing up stocking the coffee mugs.

Teller and Stan both smile gently at me and I clear my throat, grateful when some cars pull into the lot.

“Back to work. No more slacking off and talking about boys,” Stan says as he heads back to his office to get ready for the tour, but I see him pause and look at me, waiting for me to nod and tell him that I’m okay before he goes.

“I’m going to go finish cleaning out the back stock room. Need anything before I go?” Teller asks and I shake my head no, grabbing the box of coffee mugs to put away.

“I’ll get it,” he says, taking the box from me. “I’ll have the walkie-talkie. Let me know if you need a hand with anything. Or if you want to talk some more.”

I wave to him, pasting on a smile as the first tourists step inside out of the rain. I welcome them, pointing them down the hallway right as Stan steps out, ringleader persona on full blast. They follow him out and I smile as they head into the first room.

As soon as they’re gone, thoughts of Hudson and my feelings come flooding back. I might like Hudson more than any of my other dates, but can I really trust this feeling?

I try to convince myself that things are finally different. I never made it past the first date with any of those guys, but I said yes to a second with Hudson. Maybe that is a good sign. Maybe the times of me ruining everything are finally over.

EIGHT

“You look gorgeous,” Hudson tells me as he picks me up for our date.

“Thanks,” I say, smoothing my hands down my sweater.

The rain this afternoon cooled things off, so I’m in a thin sweater, jeans, and a pair of flats that have probably seen better days. I just couldn’t handle walking in those wedge sandals for another night and it was either the flats or my Converse which are in even worse shape.

“No picnic basket?” I ask as he leads me over to his car.

“No, I think it’s a little too cold outside for a picnic. Besides, I didn’t want you to think that I only had one date idea. Can’t have you getting bored with me,” he says with a smile as he helps me into the passenger seat.

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