Chapter Nineteen
Feeling a little lonely, I wandered down the stretch of motel rooms to the office. Merlot was still in the parking lot, so I assumed Jeremy was still around. The bells sounded overhead, and a voice called out.
“Just a minute.” Down the back steps, Jeremy walked quickly, almost jumping to the bottom. “Good morning, Molly.”
“Hey.”
“Everything okay?”
“Of course.” I spied the basket of fresh fruit and helped myself to a shiny red apple. Somehow, he always managed to have the best pickings. “I was wondering…” My words paused in the back of my throat. Sharing my feelings was something I was still getting used to. “I’m feeling…”
Jeremy dashed around the counter, the eaglets on his hoodie bouncing with each step. “You okay?”
My focus stayed on the industrial carpet, following the patterns until they stopped at the base of his work boots. “Yeah. I’m just lonely. Can I come with you to the Coffee Loft this morning? You don’t have to talk with me, you can just sit and work on your crossword puzzle. I can meander around town while you’re at the school.” My words tripped over themselves as my gaze roamed up over his jeans, his hoodie, and settled on the concern ripe on his face.
Even after two years, I still hadn’t gotten used to the whole loneliness part. In my ‘before’ life, there were always events to attend, network parties, hob-nobbing get-togethers. You wanted a particular part, you had to be out there, showing off your worthiness. You had to be able to carry the load, which was why I was never lead actress material. It wasn’t a strength I owned. Although I adored Jasper, sometimes I craved the noise of gatherings and being surrounded by people. Even if I didn’t have anything in common with them. Lately, that craving had shifted, and I found myself wanting more of Jeremy, of his witty banter and genuine warmth.
“Aw, you have a little cabin fever, do you?” His voice was light, teasing, but there was something softer in the way his eyes searched mine—like he was looking for something I wasn’t ready to admit.
“What? No.” But I looked up into the sincerest eyes I’ve ever had the pleasure of gazing into. “Maybe.” The way his eyes softened when he looked at me was a quiet reassurance I hadn’t known I needed. It was dangerous how much I wanted to keep seeing that look.
He patted me on the shoulder. “Of course, you can come with me, and I’m not going to ignore you either. I enjoy your company.”
His words shouldn’t have mattered so much, but they did. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had said something like that to me and actually meant it. Or maybe I just wanted him to mean it more than I cared to admit. “You do?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” He leaned against the desk and propped his left foot over his right.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. It was always amazing when someone wanted to spend time with me, and this was especially new because Jeremy only knew the Molly me. He had no idea about who I used to be before I moved here. It was refreshing but still surprising. “Maybe you’re still in your role?”
“And what role would that be?”
“The whole fake boyfriend for the fundraiser event?” Part of me wanted to believe he wasn’t just playing along—that his concern wasn’t an act. But how could I be sure when pretending was part of the deal?
“Nah, it’s still daytime so I’m the fixologist. I’m off the fake boyfriend clock until four.”
“And what happens then?” I leaned forward, letting just a hint of something I couldn’t name hang off my words.
He grinned, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes, like he wanted to lean closer, too. “Anything and everything,” he said, his finger brushing the tip of my nose. The touch was light—barely there—but the spark it sent through me was anything but. “I leave at ten. Meet me at Merlot then?”
“Thank you,” I said, the words heavier than I expected. Because it wasn’t just about the ride—it was about him, and how being near him made everything feel a little less lonely.
* * *
Forty minutes later, we parked out front of the Coffee Loft. Annie was working the front counter, and Elliot was busy setting boxes down behind the display. The Coffee Loft hummed with quiet energy: the soft clink of mugs on saucers, the hiss of the espresso machine, and the occasional bursts of laughter from the counter. It gave the room a warmth I hadn’t realized I had missed until now.
“It’s a brewtiful day, isn’t it, Molly?” Annie asked with a wink as she set a customer’s order down and moved to the till. “What’ll you have?”
I placed our order without even checking with Jeremy—it was easy to guess, his usual—and insisted on paying, despite his raised brow from across the room. While Jeremy secured his usual corner seat, I chatted briefly with Elliot about the shipment he was unpacking. Or at least, I tried to. My focus kept drifting back to Jeremy.
He unfolded his crossword puzzle, twirling his heat-sensitive pencil like a magician with a wand. Catching me looking, he tilted his head slightly, and a boyish grin spread across his face. The innocent way his smile lifted the corners of his eyes sent a flutter through my chest. It was strange, how something so small could feel so significant. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.
When our drinks were ready, I brought them over to the table and hesitated, unsure where to sit. Across from him would have been safer, a neat barrier between us, but the thought felt cold. Sitting beside him, though, felt oddly intimate, almost presumptuous. Would he think it was strange? Would other people notice?
Swallowing down my nerves, I plopped into the seat beside him, pretending I didn’t feel like I’d just made a declaration.
“Oh really?” he asked, his tone amused as his eyes flicked to me.
“Well then, this way, I can do this.” I nudged him lightly with my shoulder. Or at least, I thought it was light.
Pain immediately radiated from my elbow, a sharp reminder that my bad arm still wasn’t up for casual jostling. Tingles shot down to my fingertips, and I winced, sucking in a sharp breath.
Jeremy’s expression shifted instantly, amusement giving way to concern. Without a word, he slipped his arm around my back, pulling me closer until I could breathe through the pain. His touch was warm, steadying, and it did more than soothe my arm—it settled something restless in me.
“Not my brightest move,” I admitted, wincing.
“Or,” he teased, his voice low, “you’ll do anything for a touch.”
I managed a weak laugh, trying to brush off the heat creeping into my cheeks. “Are you my Klondike bar now?”
His brow quirked, and a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “What would I do for one?”
“Well,” I said, tapping my cup, “you are pretending to be my boyfriend. That’s kind of sketchy.”
Leaning in slightly, his voice dropped conspiratorially. “Sketchy or not, I’d do a lot more than that if it involved you and ice cream.”
The laugh that bubbled out of me was more of a hiccup, and I quickly took a sip to cover it.
“You’ve got a foam mustache,” Jeremy said, pointing at his own upper lip to illustrate.
I swiped at mine with my tongue. “Gone?”
“Not quite.” His fingers brushed my face, the pad of his thumb skimming just above my lip. The touch was fleeting, but it left a trail of warmth in its wake, like a spark catching dry kindling. My breath hitched, and for a moment, the only thing I could feel was him: the softness of his touch, the heat of his hand lingering, and the way his eyes searched mine it was like he wasn’t sure he should pull away.
“There,” he said, his voice quieter now.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my words barely audible.
Our gazes locked, the space between us shrinking with every second. My pulse raced in my ears, so loud and insistent, that I wondered if he could hear it too.
“My pleasure,” he said softly, and the weight of his words made my chest ache in a way I didn’t fully understand.
A loud clang from behind the counter shattered the moment. Annie had dropped a metal measuring cup into the sink, and the sharp noise yanked us both back to reality. Jeremy leaned back, clearing his throat, while I busied myself with my drink.
“Crossword time?” he asked, tapping the folded paper with his pencil. His other hand rested on my thigh, so casually I might have thought it accidental—if it weren’t for the steady warmth radiating from where he touched me.
“Yeah,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.
Together, we worked through the clues, his pencil scratching rhythmically against the page. He breezed through the tougher hints while I filled in the truly random knowledge questions.
“Did you ever watch Shadowed Realms ?” Jeremy asked, his eyes still focused on the crossword puzzle in front of him.
My stomach tightened into a knot. My throat followed suit, but I forced a shrug, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Not really my thing. Why?”
He circled the clue, his pencil scratching against the paper. The sound made my heart do a triple flip before splashing into a pit of dread.
28 across – Actress who played the High Sorceress on Shadowed Realms (2 words, 14 letters).
I froze, my macchiato halfway to my lips. My stage name fit perfectly, and the realization hit me like a punch to the chest.
Jeremy tilted his head, his long waves brushing his forehead as he glanced at me. “You sure? You seem like you’d make a great High Sorceress.”
I blinked, nearly choking on my coffee. My heart thundered painfully against my ribcage. “I don’t know about that,” I said, aiming for nonchalance, but my voice came out slightly higher pitched. My hands gripped my mug tightly enough to make my knuckles ache. “Pretty sure that kind of role calls for someone taller.”
He raised a brow, clearly unconvinced. “Hmm.” He stacked his mug on his plate and folded the crossword puzzle neatly. “Well, since I haven’t figured out the clue yet…guess I’ll just have to do my research when I get home.”
NO!
Panic surged through me. I needed to destroy that crossword—fast. With a quick glance at my mug, I saw just enough coffee left to act. Rising abruptly, I “accidentally” knocked the mug over. The liquid spilled across the table, but barely grazed the corner of the paper.
“Oh, Jeremy, I’m so sorry,” I said, flustered as I grabbed napkins to blot the mess. “I’m so careless.”
Jeremy’s gaze sharpened, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face, though he kept his tone light. “Careless? No. Never. But accident-prone? I might give you that.”
I forced a laugh, trying to steer him away from the puzzle. “So, when do you need to get to school?”
“In about ten minutes,” he replied, glancing at his watch. His fingers laced with mine, grounding me with their warmth. “Where do you want to go while I’m there? And where do I pick you up afterward?”
“Thought the fake boyfriend gig didn’t start until after four?” I teased, trying to keep the mood casual despite the panic still buzzing beneath my skin.
Jeremy smirked, his voice dropping just enough to make my pulse quicken. “Well, we’re out in public, so it’s best if we keep up appearances. You never know who we’ll run into.”
I glanced around the coffee shop, scanning for familiar faces. Thankfully, no Derek in sight—just a couple chatting at the far end of the shop. “Ah, I see,” I said, playing along. “Got to maintain the charade.”
“So,” he pressed, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles, “where am I picking you up?”
“I need to pick up some pantyhose for tomorrow,” I said, grateful for the excuse. “Meet me at the drugstore?”
“Sounds like a plan.” He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
I swiped at my forehead instinctively. “I feel fine,” I lied. But the rapid thudding of my heart betrayed me. If he only knew what I was really panicking about...
“You sure?”
“Positive.” I smiled, though it felt shaky. “You’d better get going. Don’t want to be late.”
Jeremy didn’t budge. Instead, he cupped my cheek in his hand, his touch soft but firm, grounding me in the moment. Before I could think too hard about it, he leaned down, brushing his lips over mine in a kiss so casual it could have been mistaken for habit. But there was nothing casual about the way it left me buzzing, my lips tingling with the ghost of his touch.
“See you in about forty-five minutes?” he asked, his voice warm and easy, as though the kiss hadn’t just set my world spinning.
“Absolutely,” I managed, my voice softer than I intended.
I watched as he disappeared out the door, his hand raised in a casual wave. The moment he was gone, I let out a breath. My lips still tingled, but my thoughts were racing ahead.
Jeremy was clever—too clever for my comfort. If he dug into that crossword clue, it wouldn’t take him long to connect the dots. And then what?
If he finds out before I’m ready, it’ll ruin everything.