Page 126 of That Fake Feeling

Heshifts his focus from me to her.Withhis eyes off me,Iattempt to take a breath for what feels like the first time in ten minutes.

ConnorgivesAuntJenhis most charming smile. “Hi.”

Iswear both her feet almost come off the ground. “Oh, goodLord.”

Shespins and looks at me. “It’shim, isn’t it?”Shepoints atConnor. “Him?”

Connor’seyes crinkle with his chuckle.

Oh, myGod, just look at him.Thebeautiful slightly lopsided smile, the tousled hair, the incredible shoulders, and the heart so big that he’s spent his whole adult life sacrificing its happiness for the greater good of his family.

Andhe’shere.

Hefigured out whereIam and traveled all the way to find me.

Hangon, though.

Mybreath falters for a moment as my fingers and toes suddenly turn ice cold.

Howthe hell did he do that?

Ididn’t tell a soul whereIwas going.

Isuck on my top lip and nod atAuntJen. “Yes.It’shim.”

Witha flash of dazzling white teeth, he holds out a hand toward her. “Niceto meet you,Rose’sAuntJen.I’mConnor.”

Sheshakes his hand and adjusts her hair.Afterbeing squished under a raincoat hood, it’s even more disheveled than usual.

“Well, this is quite the surprise.”Shegiggles before letting go of his hand.

That’sher won over then.

Sheturns back to me. “Isn’tthis quite the surprise,Rose?”

Inod slowly. “Itis.”

I’mtempted to spin around, run out of the door, and wait in theJeep.WhichIcould do because it won’t be locked.Apparently, that’s not necessary inCatastrophe.AuntJensays she hasn’t locked a car in more than twenty years.

Silencehangs in the air for a second.

“Howdid you know whereIwas?”Iask him.

“Youweren’t atBrittney’s.”Helooks very pleased with himself. “So,Ithought this was the only other place you could be.”

Yeah, guessI’dgivenSterlingmy address atBrittney’s.

“Goodguess thatI’dcome to visitAuntJen.”Thisman knows me. “Butwhat made you come here, to the coffee shop?”

Heshrugs. “Youtold me about it.Thatyour aunt comes toCatastropheCoffeenearly every day.”

Oh, yes.HowcouldIforget.Imentioned it while we were having a nightcap in the candlelit nook at his parents’ house.Justminutes before we first kissed.

Mycheeks warm from the memory and from my heart racing atConnor’sunexpected presence.

AuntJendoes a full three-hundred-sixty-degree turn, her clogs squeaking on the floor.

“Everyone’swatching, you know,” she says in a loud whisper.