Page 52 of Sparks Fly

There was a short pause before the next message came through.

Addison: Enjoy your ride. Be safe.

Me: What’s your Sunday look like?

Addison: Laundry. Cleaning. Real estate emails. Glamorous stuff.

Addison: You?

Me: Ride now. Workshop later. Talk after dinner?

Addison: Deal.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed inside to join the others. The ride had done its job. My shoulders felt looser and my mind clearer than it had that morning. Addison was still there, though.

Inside the diner, the air conditioning hit hard after the sun-soaked ride. We crowded into our usual booth with helmets lined at the end like trophies and jackets draped across the backs of chairs while menus barely got a glance. It was ritual. I slid into my seat last with my phone still warm in my hand, and Nina noticed immediately.

“Okay,” Nina said slowly while narrowing her eyes at me. “Who was that text for? You’ve had that dumb little smile since you parked.”

I didn’t bother pretending. “Addison.”

“Ooh, Addison,” Vic said as they leaned forward across the table. “It’s getting serious, huh?”

“Of course it is, she’s got a condo with an espresso machine and perfect eyebrows,” Nina added with a grin.

Jay took a sip of water while Tasha elbowed him in the ribs.

“Don’t act like you’re not curious,” she said.

Jay looked at me across the table. “You like her?”

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. I do.”

The energy at the table shifted slightly, not judgmental but attentive.

“She broke it off with the guy,” I added while resting my elbows on the table. “We spent the night together Friday. Nothing happened like that. We just talked, slept, and woke up together. Then we got brunch.” I glanced down for a second before continuing. “It was nice.”

Vic raised their eyebrows. “That sounds dangerously domestic for you.”

“It was,” I admitted. “And I didn’t hate it.”

Nina’s expression softened slightly. “So what’s the deal? She out?”

“No,” I said. “Not really. She’s never done this before. Not like this.” I wrapped my fingers around my milkshake but didn’t drink it. “She wants to keep seeing me, but she says she’s complicated.”

“She is complicated,” Tasha said gently.

“She’s figuring it out,” I replied. “I think I’m already in deeper than I meant to be.”

Nina didn’t look surprised. “You’re falling for her.”

I didn’t argue.

“That’s not bad,” Jay said calmly. “Just don’t lose yourself.”

Tasha nodded. “We’re not saying don’t go for it. Just don’t rearrange your whole life for someone who’s still learning the map.”

“I hear you,” I said. “But I don’t think I can be careful with this one.”