Page 17 of Just One More Thing

“Now that’s not very hospitable, French Fry,” Willard calls.

I glare up at the sky. “That bird and I have already met, and we do not get along.”

French Fry squawks something that was probably obscene and flaps off.

I take the last sip of my latte and realize my hands have stopped shaking.

“I should keep walking,” I say.

Willard nods. “Loop’s not going to walk itself.”

I stand and brush the cardboard bits from my shorts. Then I hesitate.

“Thank you, Willard.”

He tips his hat just a little. “Chip and I are happy to help.”

I smile. “Thank you, Chip.”

Then I start down the path, heart thudding a little harder with every step.

Excitement slips in beside the nerves.

The thought of seeing Jake again.

Of not slipping past him this time.

For the first time, I don’t speed up to outrun the feeling.

I let it walk with me.

CHAPTER 7

EMORY

“There’s something I need to do,” I tell Granny, who’s perched on her stool as if it’s a throne and she’s fully prepared to rule another day from behind the counter.

She swivels toward me, slow and theatrical. “Go, go, honey. Take some doughnuts.”

“That’s actually a great idea. Thanks, Granny.”

I grab one of the pink boxes already assembled and flip it open on the counter. Crullers. Glazed. The old-fashioned kind with the cracked top Jake always claimed he didn’t want and then somehow finished every time.

I pause with my hand over the tray, then add one chocolate glazed. For courage. Or nostalgia. Or because I don’t know what else to do with my hands.

How did I know someone so completely—every order, every habit, every tiny preference—and now the only things I know about him come in headlines and sports segments?

I don’t know how he takes his coffee now. Or if he still hates sprinkles. Or if he still smiles the same way when he’s trying not to.

I blow out a breath so hard my lips vibrate and glance around to make sure nobody heard me.

Granny watches me over the top of her glasses.

“Don’t,” I say.

“I didn’t say a word.”

“That’s because your whole face is saying them.”