Page 286 of Ranger's Wildflower

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“You just listed details about my high school,” she said slowly. “So yeah… I’m a little concerned.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “You should be.”

That didn’t help.

“At least you’re honest,” she said.

That pulled the faintest smirk out of me.

Didn’t expect that.

She’s not faking it.

That’s the problem.

If she were lying, I’d see it.

But she wasn’t.

She had no idea who I was.

Which meant one of two things—

Either I’d finally lost it…

Or something about this didn’t add up.

“You drink your coffee black,” I said.

She blinked. “What?”

“No sugar. No cream. You said anything else was a waste.”

Silence.

Then slowly—

She lifted the cup in her hand.

Black.

Her eyes sharpened now.

“How did you know that?”

Good question.

One I didn’t have an answer for anymore.

I should’ve left.

That would’ve been the smart move.

Instead—

I stayed.

Mistake number two.

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