worry—he was still talking to Anita and he didn’t see a thing.” Then she let out a big breath. “But it was close.”
They stood frozen a few seconds longer, both a little spooked by the timing, until Amy said, “We should try to look normal. He’s going to pass by the window any second now.”
So Tessa speedily went back to stocking the summer display, and Amy—seeking a little comfort, she supposed—bent down to scoop Austen into her arms from where the tabby had situated herself in one of the easy chairs. Then, with the kitty in her grasp, she eased down into the chair herself, realizing she suddenly felt a little unsteady.
“This is all gonna turn out great, Ames, you’ll see,” Tessa said from behind her then, perhaps sensing her unease now that the deed was done. And Amy only wished she could be so sure. For the second time already since falling for her old friend, she kind of wanted to throw up.
And when she saw Logan go striding past the shop’s big window, a shiver rippled through her. He was about to find it, read it. Her words of love. Passion. Things that were so foreign to her. It felt beyond strange to be sharing them. And so soon. And especially like this. Even if he didn’t know they’d come from her.
When the door opened a few minutes later, the bell jangling, she flinched, and her stomach practically shriveled when she saw who it was. “Logan,” she murmured, her heart in her throat. She sensed Tessa darting her head around from where she stood working behind her.
“Hey, did you guys see anyone near my car?” he asked, his brow knit.
“No,” Amy answered quickly.
“Why?” Tessa asked much more easily. “Something wrong with it?”
“No,” he said uncertainly. “Just wondering.” But then he stood there looking understandably perplexed and Amy wished she could read his thoughts. Was he intrigued, as she hoped? Or did he think it was juvenile? Or worse, creepy. She hadn’t really taken the time to consider all his possible responses.
“Did Anita give you a job?” she asked then, feeling the need to take his mind off the letter for at least as long as he was in her presence—since she still felt a little sick.
It worked—he grinned. “Um, yeah. She did. I start in a couple days.”
“Well, I still think you belong back in the firehouse—but for now, I’m glad for you.”
“It has to be this way, Ames. Gotta do something else.” He sounded completely resolute.
And it hit her then how so many people in her world were suddenly undergoing big transitions: Tessa and Rachel getting married, Mike and Lucky not only getting married but having Anna return home. And Logan, of course. And Anna Romo herself. And . . . her.
And maybe her own transition seemed like the smallest of the lot, but it was actually the most significant of her entire life.
She’d never been in love before, after all.
And so she’d certainly never been in love with one of her lifelong best friends.
And she’d also never wanted to kiss one of her best friends, or . . . do more than that with one of them, either.
And if by some truly amazing miracle Logan ever wanted her in the same way . . . well, then the time would come when she’d have to face doing something else she’d never done before. Something she feared deeply. Something she secretly craved with all her heart. And something she’d begun to think she might never get to do.
And who knew—if Logan ended up with Anna Romo, maybe she never would. She let out a sigh, sad about it in a whole new way now.
No one knew Amy’s deepest, darkest secret.
Not even Tessa or Rachel.
Which meant Tessa didn’t even completely realize all that was at stake here.
The sad truth was that, at thirty-four, Amy was still a virgin.
Six
. . . and communicate all that need be told by letter . . .
Jane Austen, from Emma
A my buzzed around Edna Farris’s yard, just outside the little white farmhouse, like the busy bees
They stood frozen a few seconds longer, both a little spooked by the timing, until Amy said, “We should try to look normal. He’s going to pass by the window any second now.”
So Tessa speedily went back to stocking the summer display, and Amy—seeking a little comfort, she supposed—bent down to scoop Austen into her arms from where the tabby had situated herself in one of the easy chairs. Then, with the kitty in her grasp, she eased down into the chair herself, realizing she suddenly felt a little unsteady.
“This is all gonna turn out great, Ames, you’ll see,” Tessa said from behind her then, perhaps sensing her unease now that the deed was done. And Amy only wished she could be so sure. For the second time already since falling for her old friend, she kind of wanted to throw up.
And when she saw Logan go striding past the shop’s big window, a shiver rippled through her. He was about to find it, read it. Her words of love. Passion. Things that were so foreign to her. It felt beyond strange to be sharing them. And so soon. And especially like this. Even if he didn’t know they’d come from her.
When the door opened a few minutes later, the bell jangling, she flinched, and her stomach practically shriveled when she saw who it was. “Logan,” she murmured, her heart in her throat. She sensed Tessa darting her head around from where she stood working behind her.
“Hey, did you guys see anyone near my car?” he asked, his brow knit.
“No,” Amy answered quickly.
“Why?” Tessa asked much more easily. “Something wrong with it?”
“No,” he said uncertainly. “Just wondering.” But then he stood there looking understandably perplexed and Amy wished she could read his thoughts. Was he intrigued, as she hoped? Or did he think it was juvenile? Or worse, creepy. She hadn’t really taken the time to consider all his possible responses.
“Did Anita give you a job?” she asked then, feeling the need to take his mind off the letter for at least as long as he was in her presence—since she still felt a little sick.
It worked—he grinned. “Um, yeah. She did. I start in a couple days.”
“Well, I still think you belong back in the firehouse—but for now, I’m glad for you.”
“It has to be this way, Ames. Gotta do something else.” He sounded completely resolute.
And it hit her then how so many people in her world were suddenly undergoing big transitions: Tessa and Rachel getting married, Mike and Lucky not only getting married but having Anna return home. And Logan, of course. And Anna Romo herself. And . . . her.
And maybe her own transition seemed like the smallest of the lot, but it was actually the most significant of her entire life.
She’d never been in love before, after all.
And so she’d certainly never been in love with one of her lifelong best friends.
And she’d also never wanted to kiss one of her best friends, or . . . do more than that with one of them, either.
And if by some truly amazing miracle Logan ever wanted her in the same way . . . well, then the time would come when she’d have to face doing something else she’d never done before. Something she feared deeply. Something she secretly craved with all her heart. And something she’d begun to think she might never get to do.
And who knew—if Logan ended up with Anna Romo, maybe she never would. She let out a sigh, sad about it in a whole new way now.
No one knew Amy’s deepest, darkest secret.
Not even Tessa or Rachel.
Which meant Tessa didn’t even completely realize all that was at stake here.
The sad truth was that, at thirty-four, Amy was still a virgin.
Six
. . . and communicate all that need be told by letter . . .
Jane Austen, from Emma
A my buzzed around Edna Farris’s yard, just outside the little white farmhouse, like the busy bees
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