Page 57 of Pretend You Love Me

“Just fill out these forms.” She slaps them on the counter beside me.

“Perfect. Thanks,” I say, taking them.

I’m thankful not to have to say anything out loud. The less chance someone overhears, the better. I’m almost finished with my form when I feel a body behind me. I flip over the papers to hide what I’ve written and whirl around.

“Whatcha doin here, Ginger?” Hawk asks. He’s leaning on the counter, looking me up and down.

“Are you following me?” I say, sweetly. But really - is he following me? I’m starting to wonder.

“I could ask you the same thing. You seem to be everywhere these days.”

I clear my throat. “Small town, right?”

“It’s not that small,” he says.

Well, I can’t really continue this with Hawk staring down my neck. I glance at my watch, “Oh, shit, I told Rose I’d swing by, and I’m late.” A complete lie.

I hug the papers close to my chest. “Sheila, I’ll have to fill these out later and come back.”

“Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart. I’m here all day,” she says as she plucks away on the keyboard.

“Bye, Hawk,” I say without making eye contact. I’m halfway to the door when I hear him call.

“Ginger.”

I turn slowly. Now what?

“Your phone,” he says, picking it up. He flips it over in his hands. His brow furrows as he studies it.

“Silly me.” I snatch it away from him. “Would probably lose my own head if it weren’t attached to my body.”

“Right,” he says, slowly.

“Gotta run,” I say as I hurry toward the door.

I’m so sweaty by the time I make it to the library. I would make a terrible criminal or spy for that matter. I have absolutely no poker face, and my body betrays me with sweat and blushing anytime I lie.

“Ginger,” Rose says as I walk in the door. “Is something wrong?”

“Oh, what? No.”

“You just look flustered.”

“Just trying to remember my to-do list. I should have written it down.”

“Oh, right, I know, so easy to forget things.”

She comes around the counter with a mug in her hands.

“I have something for you,” she says, handing me a mug. It smells nice.

“That’s so thoughtful.” I take a sip.

She lowers her voice, “It’s good for fertility.”

I nearly spit it all over her face.

“Oh, gosh, are you okay?”she asks.