him you’re
serious about Hank?”
I opened my mouth to answer then had to shut it again. Had
I? I honestly couldn’t remember if I’d actually said those words. “Um…I think
so.”
She rolled her eyes. “Elle, you can’t leave the poor guy
hanging. He’ll be okay. He stopped asking me out immediately after I told him
it wouldn’t work between us last year. He’s really a good guy, you know?”
I nodded even though I’d had my doubts. Of course, I had my
doubts about every male in existence after Declan’s abuse. I knew better than
to think they were all like that, but how would I know the difference?
“I know. I didn’t mean to. I just…I don’t know. The first
time he asked me out I just said it wasn’t a good time for me to be dating. He
must have taken that as a maybe.”
“Yeah, well you really need to get things straightened out
with him and Hank one way or the other. You can’t keep second-guessing
yourself.”
“I know. You’re right.”
She smiled and closed the distance to put her arm around me.
We were close as sisters. Closer than really, since I tried not to talk to my
sister too often.
“Of course I’m right. Just like you were right back when you
helped me out with Sean.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
I sighed and stepped out from beneath her arm. She let me go
but disapproval was clear on her face. “You were just fighting his personal
demons. For me there might be another woman involved.”
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “I think we might
be wrong about that. I’m really sorry I even told you about the restaurant.”
“Oh no, don’t be. I want you to swear you’ll always be
honest with me when it comes to this kind of stuff.”
“Well, of course I will. Just like you better be with me.
All I mean is, I didn’t really see much and maybe I misunderstood what I saw. I
mean, I can’t imagine Hank kissing you one day and then going out with someone
else.”
I shook my head and plopped down in my chair. “No. I can’t
either.”
“So…what are you going to do?”
I shrugged and played with the pencil holder. “Hell if I
know. Just coast for now I guess.”
“And tell Ben to back off?”
“Yes. I’m definitely going to do that.”
“Good,” she said, straightening from where she’d been
leaning on the counter. “Here he comes. Good luck.”
I growled in aggravation as she sauntered away and Ben
arrived.
“What’s up?” he asked.
With a sigh I rolled my eyes heavenward and prayed for
strength and patience.
The conversation was brief and he took it well. We joked
around a few more minutes before his shift ended and it all seemed good between
us. I just hoped I was right about that. Confusion over one man in my life was
more than enough for me.
I had about an hour left on my shift when Hank walked in and
brought a smile to my face. He was carrying a bouquet of yellow roses.
“Hey, beautiful, how’s your day been?” he asked.
He handed me the flowers and I gushed over them a moment
before remembering to answer him. “Better now, handsome. How’s yours?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “It’s hot as hell outside
but I think it’s even hotter in here.”
He made a show of ogling me up and down and I snorted out a
laugh.
“Please tell me that line doesn’t actually work for you.”
He laughed harder and shrugged. “Only if I find a really
drunk lady to try it on. So, you get off soon?”
“Yeah, in just under an hour.”
“Perfect. I have something to show you and then we can go to
dinner.”
I looked down at myself and smirked. “All right, but no
place fancy. I look a mess.”
“You’re perfect.”
Megan walked up before I could protest and gushed over the
roses too. Hank reached across the counter and plucked one out of the bouquet,
flashing me a wink as he handed it to Megan.
“I would have brought you your own but Sean kinda scares
me.”
We all laughed at that but I had to wonder if it were
serious about Hank?”
I opened my mouth to answer then had to shut it again. Had
I? I honestly couldn’t remember if I’d actually said those words. “Um…I think
so.”
She rolled her eyes. “Elle, you can’t leave the poor guy
hanging. He’ll be okay. He stopped asking me out immediately after I told him
it wouldn’t work between us last year. He’s really a good guy, you know?”
I nodded even though I’d had my doubts. Of course, I had my
doubts about every male in existence after Declan’s abuse. I knew better than
to think they were all like that, but how would I know the difference?
“I know. I didn’t mean to. I just…I don’t know. The first
time he asked me out I just said it wasn’t a good time for me to be dating. He
must have taken that as a maybe.”
“Yeah, well you really need to get things straightened out
with him and Hank one way or the other. You can’t keep second-guessing
yourself.”
“I know. You’re right.”
She smiled and closed the distance to put her arm around me.
We were close as sisters. Closer than really, since I tried not to talk to my
sister too often.
“Of course I’m right. Just like you were right back when you
helped me out with Sean.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
I sighed and stepped out from beneath her arm. She let me go
but disapproval was clear on her face. “You were just fighting his personal
demons. For me there might be another woman involved.”
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “I think we might
be wrong about that. I’m really sorry I even told you about the restaurant.”
“Oh no, don’t be. I want you to swear you’ll always be
honest with me when it comes to this kind of stuff.”
“Well, of course I will. Just like you better be with me.
All I mean is, I didn’t really see much and maybe I misunderstood what I saw. I
mean, I can’t imagine Hank kissing you one day and then going out with someone
else.”
I shook my head and plopped down in my chair. “No. I can’t
either.”
“So…what are you going to do?”
I shrugged and played with the pencil holder. “Hell if I
know. Just coast for now I guess.”
“And tell Ben to back off?”
“Yes. I’m definitely going to do that.”
“Good,” she said, straightening from where she’d been
leaning on the counter. “Here he comes. Good luck.”
I growled in aggravation as she sauntered away and Ben
arrived.
“What’s up?” he asked.
With a sigh I rolled my eyes heavenward and prayed for
strength and patience.
The conversation was brief and he took it well. We joked
around a few more minutes before his shift ended and it all seemed good between
us. I just hoped I was right about that. Confusion over one man in my life was
more than enough for me.
I had about an hour left on my shift when Hank walked in and
brought a smile to my face. He was carrying a bouquet of yellow roses.
“Hey, beautiful, how’s your day been?” he asked.
He handed me the flowers and I gushed over them a moment
before remembering to answer him. “Better now, handsome. How’s yours?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “It’s hot as hell outside
but I think it’s even hotter in here.”
He made a show of ogling me up and down and I snorted out a
laugh.
“Please tell me that line doesn’t actually work for you.”
He laughed harder and shrugged. “Only if I find a really
drunk lady to try it on. So, you get off soon?”
“Yeah, in just under an hour.”
“Perfect. I have something to show you and then we can go to
dinner.”
I looked down at myself and smirked. “All right, but no
place fancy. I look a mess.”
“You’re perfect.”
Megan walked up before I could protest and gushed over the
roses too. Hank reached across the counter and plucked one out of the bouquet,
flashing me a wink as he handed it to Megan.
“I would have brought you your own but Sean kinda scares
me.”
We all laughed at that but I had to wonder if it were
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