My lengthy assessment of his appearance would feel horribly awkward and incredibly desperate if he wasn’t looking at me the same way I was looking at him.
Reconciling who we are now with who we were the last time we locked eyes.
Cataloging all the ways we’ve changed.
All the ways wehaven’t.
“Did you—oh. Hi.” The woman Teddy was with in the grocery store appears, stopping and glancing between us as she tries to figure out why we’re both motionless. A gust of wind causes her skirt to flutter around her legs like a peony-patterned flag.
It’s one thing to realize I’m still affected by his presence. Another wholly to learn he is still affected by mine. Since he realized who he nearly collided with, I’m not even sure if Teddy has blinked.
I clear my throat and force some words out. “Hi,” I reply to her. My gaze shifts to Teddy. “It’s, uh, nice to see you. I was just…shopping.”
Teddy unfreezes, very obviously looking down at my empty hands. I feel my face flush, heat flooding my cheeks faster and quicker than it has in a long time.
“I’m sorry about Joe,” he tells me gruffly.
His voice, raspy and deep, unearths a whole avalanche of memories I’m not ready to face. I forcibly push them away and focus on the present—getting through this interaction.
“Thank you.”
“Oh my God,” the woman suddenly says.
I tense, recognizing the samehey, I know youtone the Starbucks barista at LAX used this morning.
Sure enough, she says, “You’re that singer, aren’t you? Sutton…”
“Everett,” I supply, looking at her and avoiding Teddy’s gaze. “Yeah, I am.”
“Wow! My studentsloveyour music!”
I can’t tell if she means the comment as a slight, although I’m inclined to take anything she says that way, solely based on the fact she’s here withhim.
“Thanks,” I say, still undecided if it was a jab or not. “You’re a teacher too?”
She quirks a questioning brow. It takes me a minute to realize why—I exposed more familiarity between me and Teddy than I’d meant to. A stranger on the street wouldn’t know what he did for a living. Neither would I, if I’d forgotten about him the way I planned to.
“Yes,” she replies carefully. “I teach English. Nothing music-related.” She laughs, although I’m not certain what was supposed to be funny in the two sentences. “I’m Tanya.”
Tanya and Teddy. How freaking adorable.
I shove my petty thoughts aside. “Nice to meet you, Tanya.” I look to Teddy. “I, uh, I should get going.” I manage a smile before I turn and start toward the rental sedan I picked up when I landed in Madison.
Every step I take, I chastise myself. That was bad—worse than I’d ever expected. I’m good—excellent, actually—at schooling my emotions. My reactions.
I should have handled that better.
A deep sigh shudders through my chest as I cross the asphalt. I unlock the car and open the door right as I hear my name being called.
I glance back to see Teddy jogging toward me. He’s still holding the empty red basket withDave’s Groceryemblazoned on the side, and it makes me want to smile for some reason. He didn’t take the time to return it inside before coming after me. It doesn’t surprise me; Teddy has never been the type to play games.
He says nothing else when he reaches me, just shows off more staring skills. Seeing him in person is still strange, but I’m slightly more prepared this time.
“Um, yeah?” I shift uncomfortably under the weight of his gaze. Brush some flyaways out of my face. Wish for the thousandth time since I spotted him inside that I’d opted for a less casual travel look. Chastise myself for caring.
Teddy runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry if I made it weird back there. I just figured…”
“That I’d never come back here?”