I grinned, and started where she had suggested, with my gym buddies. Between us, we finished half the box as I expined how I had gotten recruited in the first pce to the weird routines they had me try. It wasn’t all horror stories. In the end, I’d discovered I quite enjoyed the structure of the training; with the treadmill being my favourite.

  “They always ughed at me when I said it’s way nicer to run in the air-conditioning.”

  She put a hand to her mouth, but it failed to hide her amusement. Then she reached across and poked my bicep once again. “You didn’t spend all your time running though, did you?”

  “No, they made sure I kept my routines well-rounded.” I chuckled, even as I hoped it wasn’t obvious how much I enjoyed her touch.

  “Maybe I should see if they can help me?” She said, pretending to flex her arm. “I’m not too old to get into shape.”

  “You hardly need it.”

  The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. Caroline paused before a slow smile crept onto her face. She leaned back again, and a sweeping sound started up. One I realised came from her tail swishing across the floor.

  “Well,” she said after a minute. “I’ll take your word for it. But enough about you getting all sweaty. What other escapades did you get up to? It can’t all be running and learning to code websites? Tell me something fun.”

  I racked my brains before deciding on a mostly harmless story I had told several times before. She ughed at all the right pces as I spoke, and by the time I was almost done, only a single donut remained in the box.

  “Like I said, it wasn’t my fault.” Her raised eyebrow made me put my hands up in mock surrender. “No really. Nick was the one who mucked around with the system access he got by accident. Cathay and I tried to talk him out of it. Neither of us told him to rename the teachers’ assignment folder A+ students.”

  Her sharp ugh caught me off guard, and it took me a moment to continue. “Cathay couldn’t believe he didn’t get in more trouble, so she gave him a right earful.”

  “And you went along with this?” Caroline’s amused expression let me know she knew the answer, but she wanted to hear me say it.

  “We both told him not to.” Her smirk returned, and I put on my most innocent smile. “All I did was watch; it’s not my fault.”

  “Oh, well, if all you did was act as a bystander there, how could I ever bme you?”

  The humour in her words mitigated any potential sting in that. I reached for the st donut, but my fingers brushed against something else. Upon looking down, saw she had gone to grab it at the same time. Neither of us moved, hands gently brushing against each other.

  Her hand was small and warm. A sudden urge to csp it, hit me. I resisted and instead slowly pulled away. With a shrug, I waved towards the box as though the previous moment hadn’t sent my heart racing.

  “You made them, so take the st one.”

  “Such a gentleman,” she teased, as she did. “There’s something interesting I noticed in this story of yours.”

  “What’s that?” I leaned back in my chair, trying not to think about that accidental interaction.

  “You mentioned Cathay a lot while discussing Nick’s escapades. How long did you date?”

  Her matter-of-fact tone caught me off guard, and I choked on air for a moment. There was a twinkle in her eye again. I held up a hand before I answered. “We didn’t. She had a boyfriend when she got to college, and she wasn’t my type, anyway. Cathay is a friend, nothing more.”

  “Mhm.”

  “Also, just because she was a rabbit beastkin doesn’t mean she had multiple partners. That’s a harmful stereotype.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Didn’t say she did, sweetheart.” Caroline’s grin widened, but was it smug or satisfied? “Alright, if a cute nerdy rabbit isn’t your type, then who is? I can’t imagine you couldn’t find someone to crush on during college. It’s a time for experimenting. Or so I’ve heard.”

  I hid my annoyance at that question. It wasn’t difficult to answer, but people had asked a variation so many times, my response was now automatic. Not the truth. That I hadn’t even admitted to any of my college buddies, and considering who I was speaking to? It wasn’t going to come out now either.

  “Nobody on campus, and I don’t really have a type. Eventually I’ll find someone for me, and I won’t need a one-night stand to do it.”

  Caroline pced a hand on her chest, drawing a flicker of my attention, before she let out an awww. An act that somehow didn’t come across as condescending as I thought it should. “And here I was under the impression that all the men your age wanted was some fun, and instead you’re out looking for a soulmate.”

  “At twenty-one, I think finding a soulmate is a little much. More, someone I really do like. Not just that I want to…” I couldn’t quite bring myself to finish the sentence. A sudden urge to move overcame me, and I grabbed the empty donut box as I stood. “Bin in the same spot?”

  “Behind the counter,” she confirmed.

  “Be back in a second.”

  My heart raced as I moved towards my self assigned task. Inside my head was a bit of a mess. A soulmate? The thought was too big, too grand. Though I knew if I had a choice of… It took effort not to physically shake my head to get rid of the idea. No. I was here to enjoy her company, and see where things stood. Not to get ahead of myself.

  Although that didn’t stop the smile that crept onto my face. Once I completed my duty, I returned to the table. Caroline remained in her seat, and my grin faded, as I studied the way she stared out the window. Her nostalgic expression had a hint of sadness to it that made me pause.

  “It’s odd to think you’re twenty-one now.” When she spoke, it was slow, the words soft even as she continued to study the street outside. “Sixteen years I’ve known you. Since you were two. Now here you are talking about trying to find a partner. It’s a strange feeling.”

  Her words tugged at me, but I couldn’t be sure what she meant. Strange as in disappointing? Exciting? New? I didn’t want to linger on it, so I asked. “In a bad way?”

  She tilted her head before shaking it. “No. Things change, and you get used to it in time.”

  “For the better in this case, I hope.” The joke got a small smile, and I leaned on the chair, not wanting to sit again yet. “What about you, though? You can’t tease me about my love life without expecting me to shoot back.”

  “Me?” That pulled her attention away from the window. Resignation sat behind her eyes. Regret at the verbal jab made me want to apologise, but that somehow felt even worse. I shoved it down, and did my best to hide the feeling in more humour.

  “You.” I finally retook my seat, not wanting her to think I was looming. “Any mysterious stranger strolling into town while I was gone? Some billionaire sick of his corporate life who wanted to settle down?”

  Laughter once again filled the space, and I breathed a mental sigh of relief. She waved my words off. “You’re ridiculous and clearly read too much. No, sweetheart. No mysterious strangers for me. Though I hardly have the time. Between Vanni and this pce? I have my hands full. Besides, I’m almost forty. Not exactly a catch.”

  That she wasn’t seeing anyone made me strangely giddy, and a touch guilty for feeling that way. “You’re a business owner who’s both kind and smart. That makes you a catch. Sorry, Caroline. Combine that with being a single mother in an out of the way small town? That adds the romance stereotype. Besides, thirty-seven is hardly forty.”

  “Almost charming, but you lose points for dropping in my actual age.” She reached out to swat my hand resting on the table. “Aren’t you calling me pin too? All those women are so tragically average to make the attraction more intense and romantic after all.”

  “No one can call you pin with a straight face.” We both sat as the words hung in the air. The awkwardness that I had expected from complimenting her didn’t come.

  She watched me, contemptive or maybe amused; it was hard to tell. The silence stretched out, weighing me down and making me tempted to crack a joke to break it. I resisted, letting the moment sit. A way to show her I was serious.

  Her lips twitched into a smile, furtive, but visible, as though she wasn’t sure it was appropriate. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” Nerves got the better of me. I cleared my throat and changed to a much safer topic. “So, how is the bakery going?”

  “Oh, you know. Enough to keep the lights on.” That small smile blossomed as she leaned forward again. “Though speaking of work, what about you? Do you have your future lined up now that you have your fancy degree?”

  It was the single question that I had hoped she wouldn’t ask. My fingers drummed against the table as I tried to think of a good response. I didn’t want to worry her, and so I bent the truth, but only a little.

  “Alright? I have savings and got some feelers out for jobs. Been doing some freence website coding. Dad’s also not exactly charging me the maximum amount of rent for his old pce. I have some time.”

  Her eyes widened. “You’re moving back in next door?”

  “Absolutely. We’ll be neighbours again.” I jumped at the change of subject. “But I’ll probably raid your fridge less now that I can buy my own food.”

  “We’ll see about that. But have you told Vanni you’re back yet? Or am I the first stop on this little homecoming tour?” Caroline asked as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.

  Nerves flooded me, but I pushed through them. “You’re my first stop. I wanted to see you to let you know I’m home.”

  “And show off your progress?” She gnced towards my arms, and I grinned, holding one up and flexing.

  “You know it.”

  Caroline let out a softly amused huff, though she didn’t look away. “Did you pn on surprising her too?”

  “After your reaction? I kind of have to. It’ll be too funny not to.”

  “Well, before you leave me for my daughter, can we backtrack to your college days?” Her chair squeaked a little when she leaned back, and her tail once again wagged behind her. “I still can’t quite believe you didn’t date at all.”

  “There were other things to focus on. Though some people decided that was a problem.”

  “Oh?” That single word let me know I had better expin myself, and I did.

  “Nick saw the photo of the three of us. That one of you, Vanni and me at the water park? Mentioned it while making fun of me at a party. A few of the beastkin girls overheard, and took my apparent crush on Vanni as a challenge.”

  Caroline frowned. “None of those pictures were particurly scandalous. Which one was it?”

  “The log flume ride.”

  “Oh!” Her delighted shout made me wince. “That was always one of my favourites. The st picture we took together before you vanished off to the big city. I’m surprised you took it with you to college. Did you want a little reminder of where you came from?”

  “Ahh, yeah. Something like that?” I shifted in my chair. “Anyway, like I was saying. Nick mentioned it and teased me about having a girlfriend back home. He’s smitten with Vanni, by the way.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be excited beyond words to know yet another set of boys were drooling over her.” Caroline gave a slow shake of head. “So your friend got one look at her and decided you had your future mapped out? Alright, but you mentioned some beastkin girls taking this as a challenge?”

  “There was a group of them, but Felicia, this lioness, led it. She was insatiable about teasing me. I swear she took every opportunity to climb into my p to get a rise out of me.”

  “And I bet she succeeded in more ways than one.”

  The innuendo was so quick; a moment passed before I registered what she had said. A choked ugh followed a splutter as I gnced across the table. Her grin was wide, and it was clear she was proud of that line. “Caroline! You can’t say that!”

  “Why not? Just because I’m sixteen years your senior doesn’t mean I’m too old for jokes.” She winked at me. “But you’re telling me you had these girls practically throwing themselves at you and you said no? That must have been driving them crazy. Everyone likes a man with some loyalty.”

  “Or they just enjoyed teasing me.”

  She gave me a disbelieving look. “Mm, I’m sure that’s all it was. Well, maybe they weren’t trying the right thing to get your attention?”

  “Are you saying you could? Cause I’d like to see you try.” I leaned back in my chair, watching as she took my challenge in.

  “Sweetheart.” The word came out slowly, and almost pyfully dangerous. “If I tried, you wouldn’t stand a chance. But what would people say if I showed up with you dangling on my arm?”

  My fingers tensed against the table as the implication flowed over me. A few different responses came to mind, some more daring than others. Not that I could bring myself to voice them. So I went with something simple.

  “That you were lucky?”

  She snorted and then covered her mouth with her hand. “What happened to the shy boy who used to be unable to meet my eyes? Who would run errands in the hope I’d say hi?”

  “I was never that bad. But to answer your question, he grew up.” The words sounded different somehow, and the air changed. A tension that hadn’t been there now filled the space. It urged me to keep going, but I pulled back instead. “Though, speaking of errands. I’ve binned the empty box. Anything else I can help with before I go visit Vanni? Pay you for my meal, maybe?”

  “Don’t you even think about it.” She wagged a finger at me. “But there is one thing you can do for me?”

  “Name it.”

  She reached out. “Help me up?”

  “Of course.” I took her hand, ughing as she offered me the other one. Once both were securely in my grip, I tugged. Instead of allowing me to pull her up, she continued to sit, as poised as a queen on her throne. Though the way her lip twitched hindered the image. With a sigh, I gave her a bemused look. “Really?”

  “What? I told you I’ve sampled too much of my own cooking. Maybe I’ve simply grown too heavy for even you to lift.”

  I rolled my eyes. It was a game we pyed when I was a kid, though it felt odd to be on this end. Whenever I didn’t want to leave, I’d cim the same thing. Either she, or my dad, or whichever adult was tasked with keeping an eye on us that day would make a big show of straining to pick us up. All of us kids loved it.

  “On three then?” I let her hands go and pretended to stretch.

  She beamed. “If you think that’ll help.”

  “One.”

  “Two.” She brushed a strand of hair out of her face before she took my hands again.

  “Three.”

  We spoke the st word in unison, and I pulled. The resistance I expected didn’t occur. Caroline yelped, and I braced for impact. She giggled and wrapped her arms around me, and I tentatively returned the hug.

  “That we do. Do you still remember where to go?”

  I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t stop the grin. “After all the times you told us not to go there? Yes. Also, the town is tiny, I can find it.”

  “Good.” She released me, and then turned to move back to the counter, which gave me a rather good view of the way her jeans hugged her hips, and showed off her legs. Her tail subtly raised as though trying not to block the sight, but it didn’t stay upright long. I swore there was an extra swing in her step for a moment. “See you soon then.”

  “Absolutely. See you soon.”

  “Oh, and sweetheart?” She called out as I opened the door, and the sound of the bell filled my ears once again.

  “Yes?”

  “How are you going to expin to Vanni you came to visit her dear old mother first, hmm?”

  I left without an answer as her loud ughter chased me out into the parking lot.