Page 23 of Hold Me Instead (Elmwood Falls #1)

Zachary

“I don’t know what to make of you in plain scrubs. Two days in a row. It’s really throwing me.” Zachary scratched his head, wishing the statement wasn’t so true. “I’m used to them being loud,” he added, an attempt to recalibrate.

“They’re cheerful, not loud.” Charlie slipped on her army green jacket, her grin almost proud, like she knew he was rattled. “You still like burgers?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.” When they reached the parking lot, she swung open the door of her sedan and stretched inside, her scrub pants molding to her body nicely in the process. Honestly, he’d never paid attention to how scrubs fit anyone until now.

He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“I can follow you,” he said. “Al’s Burgers?”

“No, no.” She emerged with a periwinkle scarf and scrunched her nose. “Not Al's. There’s a place up the road, if you don’t mind walking?” She flipped the scarf around her neck in various ways and gripped it close to her chest, looking at him expectantly .

“Great.” All that mattered was fueling his body, no matter what type of food apparently, since he would've followed her to the cheap burger joint he’d hung around as a teen.

Charlie shut the car door, swung her arm out to guide them, and started walking.

They moved in silence, Zachary trying to distract himself with their surroundings.

Six years away from his hometown was longer than he’d realized.

He appreciated the draw of the quaint Elmwood Falls Village, its historic buildings offering a century-old charm that had faded from surrounding neighborhoods.

While the buildings were the same as he remembered, there were quite a few new businesses occupying them, denoted by modern signage and freshly painted doors.

As close as he’d been to Main Street for the last week and a half, he hadn’t taken the time to just absorb it all.

Even on Halloween, he’d been in too much of a daze to really process everything around him.

Zachary zipped his jacket to keep out the crisp breeze, not minding the sting to his cheeks.

Dried leaves crunched beneath their feet, and wrought iron lamps adorned with greenery and gold bows glowed.

Shop windows were lined with twinkle lights, setting a holiday mood.

Charlie was probably the type to go home and curl up under a blanket after enjoying an evening like this, with a mug of something hot to drink.

He pictured her place outfitted with blankets of varying colors and fluffiness.

The mug would have a minimalist-style drawing of a human curled like a shrimp on the couch next to a cat sitting like a human, or some cheeky shit.

He snuck an anxious glance her way, the conjured image way too appealing .

She was busy looking at the shops, at ease with their leisurely pace.

Her hair was in a low braid, one she’d redone while they were finishing up notes at their desks.

He’d turned just in time to see her fingers deftly twist and twine the strands while she stared out the window.

As the wind swept up around them, the wisps of hair that always broke free danced across her cheeks.

He was oddly grateful she didn’t brush them away, and wondered how their softness compared to her skin.

She gripped his bicep and pulled them to a stop, halting his thoughts. Were these daydreams ?

“This is my friend Cleo’s shop,” Charlie said, pointing to the black awning beside them that read Cleo’s Local Goods in white script font.

The store was lit brightly, its front picture window showcasing a well-loved oak buffet and hutch cabinet, featuring teas, candles, towels, and pottery. Princess pumpkins were nestled on top and below the buffet, with sprays of dried florals.

“Now,” she said, her hand still on his arm as she breathed deeply. When she looked up at him, the street lamp glinted off her eyes. “Smell that?”

He sniffed on command. Sugary sweetness hit his nostrils, the cinnamon spice blending with the autumnal air. Sure enough, they were one shop down from Dorothy’s Bakery.

“Fuck. I forgot how that place filled the block.”

Charlie laughed. “You didn’t soak it in when you stopped by the other day?”

He took a moment to enjoy her laugh, missing it after her blowup the day before—even though he was enthralled to see that side of her too. “I’m embarrassed to admit, I called in a to-go order and was only inside for a minute. ”

She gasped, her hand sliding from him, leaving behind a warmth that made him shiver. “We’ll have to fix that,” she said with a small smile. “Magnolia’s new place will be opening there soon,” she added, pointing across the street at the storefront with a teal door before she continued walking.

“Ah, right. Magnolia, Cleo. The names you came up with the other night,” he teased.

She nudged his arm with hers. “Cleo couldn’t believe her luck when the space next to Dorothy’s became available.

She leaves her front door open on beautiful days so the bakery smell wafts in, but when they’re all buttoned up in the summer or winter, get this, it carries through the vents.

Something about how this connected strip of shops was originally built, I don’t how it works.

But it works, and that’s the main thing. ”

Zachary salivated as they passed the bustling bakery, then realized the time. “How late do they stay open?” he asked.

“Oh, a couple years ago, they extended their hours to 8 p.m. Dorothy still bakes regularly, but her daughter runs the day-to-day and pushed for the change. The grandkids have taken an interest too, so they cover post-school hours and busy seasons. It’s pretty neat, actually.”

The words sank like a rock. All these family businesses were hanging on in this tumultuous economy, passing down through generations.

It was what his dad had hoped for until Zachary had followed Anna.

Dorothy’s Bakery had been around as long as EFVH.

Zachary remembered visiting his dad at work as a kid and running over to the bakery, his fist wrapped tightly around every dollar he’d scrounged together from his allowance.

The woman had the biggest heart, always giving kids more than their money covered .

They reached the end of the block and crossed the street, the Menomonee River in front of them as they veered slightly, until Charlie announced, “Here we are.”

He followed her into the gastropub, the name Gourmet Buns stenciled on the wood-paneled wall by the hostess stand. Once settled in their booth, he looked around at the open space decorated with cedar, steel, and iron.

“Trendy,” he said.

“And delicious.” She pointed to the menu. “Best burger I’ve ever had.”

“In Elmwood Falls?”

“Ever,” she said, leaning forward with a playful smirk.

“What about Chicago?”

“Well, I haven’t been. Isn’t it known for pizza, though? Or hot dogs?”

He grinned and leaned closer as well. “So I won’t be disappointed we skipped Al’s?”

“Good God, I hope not.” Charlie laughed.

“Wait, you’ve never been to Chicago?”

“Nope. School and rotations took me through Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Never really had a reason to go to Illinois.”

“Alright, we can definitely make an excuse to drive down for pizza one day. Maybe a burger too, depending on how this goes.” The words fell easily, the thought exciting him, and yet, he straightened in his seat like he’d made a mistake.

Her smile faded, and she cleared her throat and grabbed her menu.

Rubbing a hand over his mouth, he stared at his menu, wondering what his reaction had looked like.

Could she tell he felt her laugh ring through his entire body?

That he wanted to do whatever he could to make her laugh again?

He wanted to forget that she loomed over the business, that he was working there while his dad was recovering, that the financial hit the practice had taken was worse than he’d imagined.

That hanging out with her again, outside of the office, was more than appealing.

He’d rather focus on the hints of their old friendship returning. Forget they even worked together. They deserved a night without anything between them—business shit could wait.

“How’s your dad?”

He fell back against the seat. “Fine. Ornery. Toward me that’s nothing new though, so seems we’re on par.”

“Ah.” She returned to her menu, the din of the restaurant emphasizing their silence.

When the waitress arrived, they ordered their burgers—caramelized onions for him, cheese and pickles for her. Each with a side of fries, per her encouragement.

Then they were alone, no menus to distract them. No kittens in need of care—a situation that had launched him down memory lane to when he and Charlie had helped his dad with a litter of puppies as students.

He grabbed a packet of sugar from the little tray on the table, tapping and flipping it, his eyes following the motion.

“I know you two don’t have the best relationship—”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

“Look, I’m sorry to bring him up. I didn’t want to bother your mom, and Sandra’s been swamped.”

“I get it,” he said, now disappointed he was a last resort.

He tossed the sugar packet to the side and took a giant gulp of his beer right as the waitress set it down.

“He’ll most likely go home by the end of next week.

Beyond that… His heart attack was really serious.

It’ll be a couple months before his doctor clears him to work.

” He took a deep breath. “Even then, he’s pushing for Dad to retire. ”

Charlie’s head bobbed up and down slowly, eyes wide as the words registered. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

She took a small sip of her iced tea, then slid her finger through the condensation on the glass. “He must’ve hated that news.”

“Yeah, well.” Zachary scratched his head. “Apparently, Dad moved past the idea as if his doctor hadn’t even mentioned it.”

“Shit,” she whispered.

“Basically.”

She leaned on the table and looked out the window. “He’s not ready to retire.”