"Yeah," I said. I was acutely aware of the distance between us, or the lack of distance anyway.
"You should have coffee with me," he said. The way he said it wasn't a suggestion. Was I being ordered to coffee? I had the immediate impulse to say no. Of course, here was a hot guy from the past asking me to coffee - a nice, normal guy. The exact opposite of Cade.
I should say yes.
"Okay," I said.
He smiled. "Tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Where are the toys?" The pitter patter of little footsteps broke my focus on Jed, and I looked up to see Cade's friends, the ones I'd met the other day at Stan's place, standing a few feet away. I stepped back from Jed, suddenly feeling guilty, like I'd been caught doing something I shouldn't be doing.
I mentally chastised myself for feeling that way. There was no reason to feel like that. It's not like I was dating Cade.
"Are you a cop?" MacKenzie asked. "My dad says cops are pigs. Are you a pig?"
"Come here, Mac," Crunch said, scooping her up in his arms. "She's just turned four." He laughed. "Kids say such crazy things, right?"
"No, daddy," MacKenzie protested, as Crunch started to walk away with her. "You said. And pigs make oink sounds. Will he make a sound for us?"
I heard Crunch "shush" MacKenzie.
"Sorry about that," April said. "I don't know where she gets that stuff sometimes."
"That's quite alright," Jed said. "It's not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I'm Sheriff Easton." He held out his hand and April took it.
"April," she said.
"And you two know each other?" Jed asked.
"Yes," I said. My heart was racing, but I'm not sure whether I was more nervous that I'd been caught by April and Crunch, standing there with Jed, or that I wasn't sure how to explain them to Jed. Cade hadn't given me an explanation, but I knew their presence here wasn't something Jed needed to be aware of. Before April could answer, I said, "April and the family are relatives of Mr. Austin, cousins or something, I think."
April nodded. "We're here visiting for a few days."
"Well, nice to meet you. I'll leave you to what you're doing." He turned to me. "Coffee. Tomorrow. Nina's."
"Yes." I watched him leave, before I turned to April. It felt like my cheeks were on fire. Why did I feel so guilty, being caught making a date with Jed? Or whatever it was. It was just coffee, nothing more.
"Hi, April," I said, willing my cheeks to cool.
"Hey, June," she said. "Shopping?"
"Yeah, had to get - what the hell was I getting? Cheese." I laughed. "I was just getting out of the house, actually."
April's eyes widened. "Me too. It's beautiful here, don't get me wrong. But I was feeling a little cooped up. I was glad when Stan sent us into town to pick up a few things for dinner. Oh, why don't you come by? I'm sure he would want you to."
Did I want to go to dinner at Cade's house? That was definitely a no.
“Hey!” MacKenzie bounded down the aisle again, wrapping her arms around April’s leg. “Daddy said we can get ice cream because I was good!”
April looked down at her. “Yes, we can get ice cream. Go look at the freezer right there. You can pick whatever one you want.”
“Yay!” She skipped toward the ice cream freezer.
“I’ll let you finish, so I can run after Mac,” April said. “But you’ll come for dinner, right?”
“Um. Sure?” I wasn’t sure.
“Good.” She looked away. “No, Mac, don’t open that freezer! I said you could have one. Not more than that! Ok, see you later, June!”
I paid and drove home, preoccupied the entire time with thoughts of Cade.
And now, Jed. He was an unexpected surprise. A good one?
I should have told April I didn't have time for dinner. I should have made something up. I didn't want to see Cade.
I could still make an excuse. I went back and forth in my mind, should I or shouldn't I, even while showering and afterward, as I was pulling on clothes and applying makeup. While I blow-dried my hair, I thought, I'll just call over and tell them I won't go. No, I can't do that. I don't have Stan's phone number.
Or was that just my excuse?
Then, while I was putting on makeup, I chastised myself. You don't need to fix yourself up for Cade. He's the last person you need to impress. All the same, I applied lipstick and a fresh coat of gloss, then appraised myself in the mirror.
Good jeans, check.
Cute shirt, the purple top that hugged my boobs, check.
Hair, check.
Makeup, check.
Casual, don’t care attitude about Cade? That wasn’t exactly a check.
“Hey, June.” April stood in the doorway, dressed in a tank top and jeans, an apron wrapped around her waist. Her hair spilled out of a ponytail, and she wore a handkerchief wrapped around her head. She looked like a fifties housewife - if a fifties housewife had full sleeve tattoos running up her arms and across her chest. "Hey, come in," she said. "I'm so glad you're here. Do you know how to cook?"
"A little bit," I said. "What are you doing?"
"I'm just trying to make a couple of side dishes Stan asked me to do. But I'm worthless in the kitchen."