“And go out there to be spotted by whoever you’re hiding from?”
“Good point. I’ll watch the store and you get us lunch.”
Romeo jumps up for his petting from Kayla.
“I’ll get us food if you tell me who you’re hiding from.” I give her a look that says if everyone can know about my life, surely I can know about my best friend’s.
“Just someone back in town. I’m avoiding him.”
“Who?” I push, because her evasiveness on the subject is only making me more curious.
“What are you, the police?” She purses her lips together.
“I met the police here. I think they gossip, so yes, I guess I am the police.” How else did everyone know my business around here? I guess it could have been Missy.
“Touché.” Kayla hops down off the desk. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
For the first time ever Kayla looks defeated so I let it go. I’m not going to push if she’s not ready. I wonder if it’s the same someone who broke her heart that she never talks about.
“Strawberry shake?” I offer, knowing those always make her happy. How could they not?
“You’re the best.” I grab my purse from behind the desk. “This doesn’t mean we aren’t talking about Shaw when you get back here.” She wiggles her eyebrows and a small smile forms on her lips. I know I’m going to have to cave if it perks her up. “I did some digging and found some stuff about him.”
“I’ll hurry back then.” I head out, stopping at the front door to check on the bell. I open the door a few times and nothing sounds. The bell is still there but it’s not ringing. I smile because I know if I grab a new one from the hardware store Shaw will put it in for me. He said he was coming back later, that he needs to check in on his mom and answer some work emails and calls.
I head out of the bookstore toward the diner that sits at the end of the road. I’m not in a giant hurry like I told Kayla, but I really don’t think she knows anything about Shaw that I don’t. We spent hours talking last night. I didn’t know you could learn so much about someone so quickly, but I felt like I’d known him for years. He put me at ease and I found myself easily opening up to him.
Not only that, he brings out a side of me that’s deep down inside. One that I thought I’d only have in my fantasies when I lay in bed and thought about what sex would be like. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to ask for the things I want. Last night and this morning with Shaw, he knew what I wanted before I did. Sleeping in bed without him was hard. I tossed and turned all night wondering why he’d turn down sharing a bed with me. I knew it was a small bed and he was a big guy, but we could have made it work.
It had put a small amount of doubt in my mind that I’d misread some of our night. Then when I walked out this morning he washed all the doubt away. He’d been right when he said I was teasing him because I needed more. When I finally asked, he gave it to me without hesitation, and not only that, he made me feel sexy and powerful too.
“Hey, Barbie,” Larry calls to me as I walk in front of his barber shop. I could be wrong but it looked like he winked at me. Maybe he just had something in his eye. I stop at his open door, unsure of what to say.
“Ah. Hi?” It comes out like a question because Larry has never once said hi to me. I thought he was Team Missy because I thought I once saw him sneaking into the back of her shop.
“You know we cut women’s hair too?”
I grab a lock of my hair and look at the ends. “I think I’m good.” I let my hair go and keep on walking, but when I look back I notice he’s watching me.
I think I must be paranoid about the broken lock because suddenly I’m feeling suspicious of everyone. I speed up anyway until I make it to the diner, which just so happens to be as busy as ever.
“Barbie!” Amelia calls my name as I enter.
I sneak off to the side and give her my order along with a book I have for her in my purse. The only tip she’ll take from me is in the form of a book and I’m more than happy to oblige. I love the friendships I’m forming with some of the women in town over our shared love of romance. It gives me hope that other people’s judgments will fade over time.