Page 25 of Sugar & Ink
Simple.
Honest, but I saw the way her shoulders straightened like she still wasn’t used to hearing compliments and believing them.
That irritated me.
Not at her.
At whoever taught her not to believe them.
The mom and kids left a few minutes later and the shop went quiet again.
Josie came around the counter and sat across from me with a glass of water. “You keep staring at me.”
I looked down at my ice cream. “No I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
“I’m eating.”
“You stare between bites.”
I pointed my spoon at her. “Bold accusation.”
“You think I don’t notice?”
I shrugged. “You’re observant.”
“I’m nosy.”
“I noticed.”
She grinned.
I took another bite of ice cream.
I just noticed things. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was thinking. How she bit the inside of her cheek while counting change. How she laughed with her whole face.
The fact that she’d started wearing brighter colors since working on the shop.
I knew because the first day she’d looked exhausted and nervous.
Now she looked happy.
That was different.
I liked different, but I wasn’t looking for anything.
I had spent years building Bad Habit, working when everyone else partied. Years putting money back into the business. I liked my life and liked being alone. I liked not having to think about anybody else’s schedule, feelings, or problems.
Women had come and gone over the years.
Nothing was serious, and nothing was worth rearranging my life over. I was good with that. More than good.
So why was I sitting in an ice cream shop in the middle of the afternoon pretending I didn’t enjoy the company?
We stared at each other, and for a second, I forgot where we were.
Forgot the ice cream.
