Page 223 of The Heart You Kept

Just the sound of his cheeky voice makes me smile. “I was just thinking of you, how are you? What happened to our coffee date on Wednesday?”

“Well, I’m in America, family emergency.”

“What happened?”

“My mom fell and broke her leg, so I’m here for a few months to help her.”

“Oh no, is she okay?”

“Honestly. I don’t know how these fucking nurses do this job full-time. It’s exhausting.”

“I know, right. So can you work over there or….”

“Yeah I can, probably won’t but I could if I wanted to. How’s things going for you?”

“Great.” I beam, I glance up guiltily through the glass window in the door at Philippe sitting on the couch in the store with his book. “Oh my god, things are going so well with you know who?” I say with a lowered voice.

“Really?” He says. “How so?”

“Well, he’s stayed at my place every night now and he sent me a huge bunch of red roses and honestly…I feel like we’re falling in love.”

“Wooow, woo, woo, slow down, old girl.”

“I know it’s very early.” I roll my eyes, feeling foolish. “But it just feels different, you know?”

“I hope it is love, but be prepared for finding out that it might not be.”

“I know.” I shrug. “Thank you for checking in, it feels like you’re the only one who pulls me back to reality about him.”

“Have you formally met any of his friends yet?”

“Not yet. We haven’t even been to his place yet.” I frown as I come to that realization. “Which is weird, now I think about it.”

“He’s probably just wanting to come to yours while you get into a rhythm.”

“Maybe.”

“I have a date tonight,” he tells me.

“You do?” I smile. “A job or a date?”

“Like a date date. A real date.”

“Does she know what you do?”

“No, and to be honest, I’m a bit nervous about it.”

“Why?”

“I haven’t been on a real date for years, what the hell do you even do?”

I giggle. “Have sex for free, I’m assuming.”

“Fuck, my life….”

I glance up to see that the store is crowded with people. “I’ve got to go, the shop is swamped.”

“Okay.”