Chapter 11: Diner Drama

Although the rain had subsided somewhere between darkness and dawn, the sky was still a bright grey the next morning as Zane trudged up to the diner with a slight hangover. His mood was as miserable as the dark clouds hanging over his head.

He had barely reached the door when a cheery voice sounded behind him, calling his name. He realized in that moment, that he’d sensed her before she even spoke. He turned around slowly to see the woman who’d consumed his every thought last night, bounding towards him with excitement.

He could tell, even from this distance that she had dark circles hugging the bottom of her lids. He felt his heart skip a beat as a slow smirk slid unwillingly onto his lips. Good. He hoped he’d caused her just as sleepless a night as she’d given him.

“Good morning!” she chirped merrily as she came to a stop in front of him.

Though she was clearly exhausted, her energy burned bright like a sun, warming him from the inside out.