Never, in my entire life, have I felt this way about someone.
This instant connection that might as well be a live wire waiting to ignite.
“Hey, Garrison.”Katelyn’s greeting rips me back to the present.
“Hey.Fun day?”I move back into the main room of the coffee shop.Thomas is sitting across from Kyle, the two teens chatting happily despite their age gap.
“It was.”Katelyn’s smile widens as she looks over at Thomas, but it fades slightly as she turns back to me.I can practically see those shields going back into place.It stings—a lot more than I care to admit.“We grabbed everything he needs for baseball camp.Thanks again for the afternoon off,” she says to Anastasia, who waves her hand in dismissal.
“Please.No need to thank me.You want a coffee?”
“Yes, please.A vanilla latte with some lavender.”
“And a hot cocoa for me, please!”Thomas calls out.“Hey, Mr.Holt!”He waves at me, so I return it, a smile on my face.
“Hey, Thomas.Getting excited?”
“Oh, more than.I seriously cannot wait.”
Kyle says something I can’t quite hear, but Thomas turns around, and the two start talking again.
“Here you go, Garrison.”Anastasia offers me a tray with three drinks on it, then goes to work making Katelyn’s coffee.Even though I have no interest in leaving, I take them, then turn to Katelyn.
“How are you doing?”
She sighs.“I’m managing.My boy will be safe and happy, and that’s all I can ask for.”
“If you need anything?—”
“I’ll be okay, but thanks.”Her plastic mask slips into place.“See you later, Garrison.”
“See ya.Thanks, Anastasia.”
“Welcome!See you later, G-man.”
“Kyle, you ready?”
“Yeah.”He pushes up.“If I don’t see you again before you leave, good luck, Thomas.I hope you have a great time.”
“Thanks so much, Kyle.Hoops when I get back?”
“Definitely.”He offers Katelyn a smile and half wave.“See ya, Miss Ellis.”
“See ya, Kyle.”She offers me one final smile, then crosses over to where Thomas is still sitting.
What do I have to do to get her to open up?
Before I can press my luck by trying to engage her in another guarded conversation, I push open the door with my back and hold it so Kyle can walk outside.
“Thanks for bringing me out, Mr.Holt.I actually think I know what I want to write about.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”His eyes light up.“I’m thinking a story about a soldier who comes home after service to find his entire town has been taken over by robots.”
I snort.“That’s a book I’d read.”
“Yeah?”Kyle looks up at me, eyes wide and hopeful.
“Oh yeah, buddy.You’re going to ace it.”Overhead, the sky darkens, and the wind picks up.Two telltale signs that the nasty storm they’ve been tracking will be rolling in over the next few hours.“It might be time to get you home.Let’s go get Suzie her coffee, and I’ll give you a ride.”