Chapter 14

“You didn’t go far today. The Blue Plate Diner coffee lose its appeal?”

“I was developing even more anxiety from too much caffeine.” I tried to smile. “So, you’ve been spending all these days watching me?”

“Sounds bad when you say it like that.”

I smiled for real this time. “It sounds like someone loves me.”

“More than I can describe. I wanted to run up and hug you so many times, but I knew you would come to me when the time was right.”

“Something has to change.”

“Yes.” Goose agreed. “We’ll figure out how.” He took my hand. “Who’s your new friend? Where did he go?”

“My friend?”

“The guy you were talking to.”

“Oh.” I looked down at my dress shoes. “I was, uh, talking to myself.”

Goose looked at me funny.

“I was.”

“And playing checkers by yourself?” He nodded toward the board, mostly void of red ones, because my left hand was a better player than my right.

“Yup.”

The squint and one raised brow returned to show his skepticism.