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“Yeah, well, you’ve always made me feel important.”

“Good.”

“And—disclaimer—I didn’t come here expecting anything from you. You’re under no obligation to react or even care about my situation. Hell, I hired you and fired you and kissed you.”

Megan smiled because as serious as Allison was trying to be, she had a dollop of whipped cream above her lip, which was so very Allison in every way.

Ally glanced behind her, curious. “Why are you enjoying this? What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry.” Megan gestured to her own lip. “It’s just that you’ve got some—”

“Oh God,” Allison said, racing for a napkin. “See what I mean? Sometimes I’m such a disaster. I’m over here trying to have a serious conversation and let you off the hook while looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man who forgot to shave.”

Megan stared at her, falling a little bit more. “I happen to find it very effective.”

The napkin went still in Allison’s hand on its way back to the table. “You do? Whipped-cream face?”

“And who said I wanted off the hook?”

“Oh.” Allison looked nervous, then pleased, then confused. “Why? After everything. The way I waltz in and then out and then here I sit again, just blabbing away.”

“Probably because you say things like that and have the most adorable look on your face.”

Allison’s cheeks dusted pink, and she smiled into her drink. “Whoa. Okay.” A pause. “So what now?” she asked finally.

“Can we just continue being us? No plans or goals required.”

“I like that. Low pressure.”

Megan sat back. “What do you have planned the rest of the day? We could grab a friendly movie.”

Ally winced. “I wish I could, but I’m scheduled for a shift at the Nutcase. I pitch in on weekends to help out my folks.”

“A good daughter.”

“I try to be. They haven’t had it so easy in the money department, and I hate to see them struggle, so I pitch in. Volunteer a little time. Plus, it’s kinda fun, working the register, talking to all the healthy people.”

“Got it. Allison the friendly counter girl. I like it.”

Ally beamed, and the whole coffee shop lit up. She had the brightest eyes, and Megan wasn’t shy about losing herself in them for once.

“That’s me.”

They sipped from their oversized mugs and watched the foot traffic around them. Finally, Allison turned to her. “I’m going to tell you something.”

“Okay.” Megan crossed her arms.

“The last time I saw you really stuck with me.”

She was referencing the way they’d kissed each other into oblivion. “I can’t say I’d forgotten about it, either. You shocked the hell out of me.”

“It was out of character, to, uh, ambush someone in their own kitchen.”

“I didn’t kick you out.”

Ally set down her mug. “No, you didn’t. In fact…” She raised a saucy eyebrow.

“I might have leaped right in. It turns out we kiss really well together.”