Page 4 of On the Way to You

“That’s the weirder part,” I confessed. “I didn’t have an answer. I just stared at him.”

“Plenty of things make you happy,” Tammy said, clearly as concerned as I was about my lack of response. “You’re literally the happiest girl I know.”

“I know. I can’t explain it. He’s… his presence is paralyzing.”

Tammy eyed him over my shoulder just as Ray tapped the bell.

“Order up!”

I grabbed the plate of steak and eggs before Tammy could say anything else, making my way back to his booth.

“Here you go,” I said, setting the plate in front of him. “Can I get you anything else right now?”

He looked up at me, and the faintest hint of a smile played at the corner of his lips. “No, this is great. Thank you.”

I nodded. But I didn’t move.

Go back to the bar, Cooper.

“So, where ya traveling from?”

He cut a corner off his steak, pausing to look up at me with it mounted on his fork. “Florida.”

He popped the bite into his mouth.

“Ah,” I said, as if it made sense or something. Nothing about him made sense. “Business or pleasure?”

He humphed the way one would when recalling an inside joke. “Neither.”

I watched as he dug into his egg, spilling the yolk onto his plate. The man wanted to eat in peace, I was sure of it, but I couldn’t move.

“Well, where are you heading?”

“Washington,” he answered easily.

My stomach did a flip, tugging on the part of my heart tied so reverently to the dreams I’d had all my life.Washington.It was where I wanted to be, where I knew my life would really begin.

Up until that point, he’d only made me uncomfortable — in a curious, fascinating way.

Now, he’d made me jealous.

“Well, that’s a long drive. Better eat up and get some energy.” I forced a smile. “Let me know if you need anything.”

My mind raced as I allowed my body to fall back into the motions, checking on customers and delivering orders, cashing out and calling out greetings and farewells as people came and went. It was the first time in my life that it bothered me — the fact that they were coming and going, and I was staying.

I was always staying.

I didn’t realize I was avoiding his table until I saw he’d placed a twenty-dollar bill near the edge of it, a signal that he was ready to go. Because he would go, he would leave, and I would stay.

Just another normal day.

“I’ll grab your change,” I said, reaching for the twenty.

He shook his head. “Not necessary.”

“Thank you,” I said softly, smiling. “And, hey, have fun in Washington. It’s… that’s where I want to go. I’m saving up now. My dream school is there.” I shrugged, not sure why I was telling him. I was one-hundred percent sure he didn’t care. “Can’t wait for an October where I don’t sweat,” I added with a chuckle.

I lifted my eyes to his, ready to walk back to the bar and leave him be, but he stopped me short.