Anger at her for stringing me along and hatred toward myself for ever letting things get as far as they did.
But no matter how much I tried to warn myself, no matter how much I wanted to keep up my guard, those walls came crashing down as soon as she took me in her arms. I wasn’t one to take risks. I hated them, actually, but if keeping things quiet meant I get to spend a few more weeks with her, then I’d do exactly that.
“Okay,” I finally said, wincing when my voice cracked. “I won’t say anything, but my sister might’ve already guessed.”
“Just so long as we aren’t talking about newspapers and reporters, we should be fine.”
“She isn’t into either of those things and knows when to keep things quiet.” I was the one with the big mouth, not her.
Cassidy took a deep breath and snuggled against me, eying the clock before holding me close again. “Stay with me a while longer.”
She didn’t have to ask twice, and as patrons gathered on the sidewalk, I let them wait a few more minutes just so I could be alone with her.
Chapter Thirteen
Ever since I opened the shop earlier this morning, it’d been a swirl of activity. From Cassidy playing in front of a crowd in the lounge to a handful of new customers happily browsing the children’s section, I had my hands full just trying to keep up with everything. The excitement, however, only lasted so long.
Cassidy remained positive, on the outside that is. Deep down, I knew her mind was focused on the road ahead, her upcoming tour, and where we went after the fact. She didn’t say as much, but whenever she risked a glace my way, she immediately averted her gaze, concentrating on her music instead.
Perhaps it was because she didn’t want to get caught.
Perhaps it was because she didn’t want her fans to come to the same conclusion Bridget had. My stomach churned, the twinge of anxiety causing my heart to skip. I should’ve been happy, thrilled that she shared my feelings. To be honest, it scared me.
I wasn’t exactly the type of person to run away from commitment, but when it came to Cassidy and her line of work, I wasn’t so sure.
Scanning one of the books for a customer as Cassidy’s voice rang out in the background, auto-pilot set in. I went through the motions and I heard her words, but my mind was far away. It drifted back to our time in the tower, with the afternoon sun shining on her face. Her eyes filled with hope as she met my gaze from across the room.
It was hard to believe how we got here. She could’ve dropped those books off at the other used bookstore, but she came here. She came here because it’s where her mother brought her when she was young. It was where our story started. We might not have realized it at the time, but sharing stories in the children’s section was how this all started, just like how her relationship with Laura was the story behind why she started to sing in the first place.
It was all connected, and as much as I hated the thought of her not being around for months on end, a part of me wanted to see where we’d end up a few weeks from now. A couple of months. A year.
Where would she be once we shared our first I love yous?
Would she be home with me or about to go on stage in the middle of her tour?
I shook my head, pushing the thought from my mind. I was letting my hopes get the better of me. In another lifetime, we probably would’ve been best friends. In fact, that’s where I thought we were headed before I kissed her, surprised when she kissed me back.
Things are moving too fast, I fretted, finishing up with my customer before opening up the inventory on my screen. The words blurred as I considered my options. It wasn’t like I was against us being together, but a candle that burns quick has a tendency to burn out before its time. With the wick burning at both ends, there was only so much time left before we knew where we’d be after her tour.
I never should’ve gotten involved. But I did. After that first day in the shop, the day when she dropped by for the journals, I should’ve sent her away instead of giving her my card in case she needed to unload anything else. If I knew then what I knew now—
Who am I kidding? I thought with a sigh. I wouldn’t have changed a thing, not how she ended up in my shop or any of the events that had happened since. More than anything else, I wanted to see this through, to see where our days would take us, including now.
A deep baritone voice thrust me from my thoughts, an older gentleman standing on the other side of the counter. “You own this establishment?” he asked, sounding somewhat annoyed, probably because he had to repeat himself.
“I do,” I said, looking from him to Cassidy who had an uncomfortable expression on her face. “What can I do for you?”
I didn’t have to ask to know the man standing in front of me was her manager. His shirt alone probably cost more than my entire wardrobe combined. Unlike Cassidy who dressed down, this guy made sure to flaunt his ego wherever he went.
“I wanted to thank you for giving her a space,” he said, his tone far from cheerful, “and to give a warning.”
Seriously? The nerve of this guy! “A warning for what?” I asked with a nervous laugh.
“She doesn’t get involved,” he said, his brows pinched above his eyes. “I’ve seen women like you come and go. She might not realize it, but I’ve known for a good long while.
Don’t let this make you think otherwise. As soon as we go on tour, you’ll be a spec in her rearview mirror, just like all the others.”
“And who are you supposed to be? Her dad?”