I touched a hand to my heart. “They do?”

He nodded rapidly. “Everyone does. In fact, the town held a special leaf-jumping contest in your honor last weekend.”

I slouched in disappointment. “You suck.”

His eyes twinkled with mischief. “You’re so easy, I couldn’t resist.”

Work harder. Push faster. My cheeks flamed, and I was grateful for the bartender’s attention. We ordered drinks, and I quickly slipped her my credit card, rejecting Finn’s protests. Still hustling my two jobs for now, I couldn’t exactly afford to treat myself, much less anyone else, to drinks, but (a) at least it was happy hour, (b) I’d received payment for my story, and (c) my pride wouldn’t let me accept drinks from Finn, at least until I knew where this meeting was headed.

“Should we sit?” Standing hip to hip at the bar was fine for friends out for drinks or a couple on a date. I wasn’t sure what Finn was to me at this point, but it was neither of those.

He agreed and we made our way to the back, where we draped our belongings across our chairs and under the table. Then we stared at each other awkwardly, presumably waiting for the other to say something first. He’d crashed my class, which meant he should initiate the conversation. It was only fair. He knew I wanted to reconcile, but I knew nothing. I felt exposed like I was stripped down to my underwear.

“I take it you read my story?” I shook my head at my own pathetic-ness. So much for waiting for him to go first.

Finn did a double take. “It was published?” His eyes lit up. “When?”

Wut? “You didn’t know?” Then what was he doing here? “It went live two weeks ago.” My phone vibrated with a FaceTime call from Kate. I ignored her in favor of taking a huge gulp of my Blue Moon.

“Congratulations!” Finn beamed as if thrilled for me.

I tucked a hair behind my ear. “Thanks. Derek hired me full-time too, but I don’t start until after the New Year, when the position opens.” I bit down a smile. My body buzzed with happiness each time I shared the news. It didn’t matter with whom: my mom, Kate, the Uber Eats delivery guy…Finn.

“It must have been one hell of a story.” His smile reached his eyes.

I mumbled, “You can say that,” and the staring recommenced. I wanted to tell him what I wrote about us…okay, maybe wanted wasn’t the right word. Needed was more accurate, but my mouth was stuck in the mute position. It would be better if he communicated what he wanted first, since, seeing that he hadn’t read my story, I had no idea what that was. Kate called again. I dismissed it…again. “You said you wanted to talk to me?”