When We Touch

She nods and takes a wide path around me. “Thanks for letting me know.”

I watch a moment as she continues up the walk, her round ass swaying in those cutoffs, her long dark waves swishing down the back of her white shirt. It’s so much like something she would’ve worn in high school. Her top has little flowers on it…

“Ember,” I call out.

She stops, but she doesn’t turn around immediately. I jog the few steps to where she stands between Wyatt’s and Betty’s buildings. Her teeth are clenched, and I can tell she’s doing her best to be stern.

“I’d like to talk to you. We need to talk.” Looking down, I survey my sweaty clothes, the paint on the back of my knuckles. “I’m kind of a mess right now. Would you have dinner with me?”

“Tonight?” Her beautiful brown eyes blink wide, and I can see the caramel flecks in her irises.

“Or tomorrow?” I smile, hoping to ease the tension. “It’s Friday. Date night.”

Again, her brow lowers. “I have a date tomorrow night.”

Now it’s my turn to frown. “With who?”

“None of your business,” she snaps, starting to walk again. I step in front of her, blocking her path.

“Hey—I’m sorry.” My tone is gentler. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I think you did. But even if you didn’t, I wouldn’t go out with you. Not if you were the last man on Earth.”

She tries to step around me, but I catch her shoulders to stop her. “Why not?”

“You know why not. Now let me go, Jackson Cane.”

“I can’t do that.” Sliding my hands off her shoulders, I drop my chin. “I thought I could, but I can’t.”

Fire simmers in her eyes. “Is that so? So you came back thinking I’d be sitting here waiting for you?”

“No—I didn’t…”

“That’s right. I’m not. I have more important things than you in my life. You can keep on driving for all I care.”

She pushes past me and goes into the poboy shop. I fall against the side of the building then swear. Light blue is all up the side of my back, and I’ve fucked up the paint on the hardware store… among other things.

Ten

Ember

My insides are all shaky, and I almost dropped Betty’s penis cake. “Damn Jackson Cane,” I say under my breath. “Hi, André.” I wave to the poboy maestro behind the counter.

“Ember Rose!” he calls out in his smooth voice. “Something for me?”

“Oh, um…” My cheeks flame red. Damn Betty Pepper and her perverted orders. “Not exactly. Is Betty in the back?” I hurry down the aisle to the door at the back of the store before he can ask to see what’s in the box.

Since we both work in the food trade, André and I are always sharing our latest creations.

“Should be.” The front door starts to open, and I can tell by the baseball cap it’s Jackson.

“Thanks!” I push through Betty’s office door, shutting it quickly behind me.

For a moment, I lean my forehead against it and listen. I’m breathing fast, and sure enough, Jackson’s voice fills the store. It sounds like he and André are having a lively conversation… complete with laughter.

Jerk. I can’t believe he can just stand out there and laugh and act like nothing has changed. Like he can waltz back into Oceanside, and I’ll be waiting to fall at his feet. The more I think about it, the madder I get.

Turning slowly, my jaw is tight as I look around the room. The space is about the size of a small kitchen with paper and office supplies filling a tall set of metal shelves dividing it in half. Betty’s wooden desk is situated in the back corner. It appears to be empty.