She swore it wasn’t cold in the house, but anytime anyone mentioned it was basically the same as the store, she got offended and gave us The Look.

You know. The one that strikes the fear of a hundred deities into you.

I trudged my way downstairs. Since it was Sunday, the store was closed, but it was early enough that everyone had already gone to church. They wouldn’t be back for at least an hour and a half—which was more than long enough for Great-Aunt Bethel to count the ways I was going to Hell.

I turned on the coffeemaker and refilled the empty beans. It was kind of nice to have the house to myself, especially without everyone fussing over me. I knew Bethel meant well, but she didn’t exactly understand ‘personal space.’

Or any space at all, actually.

At least she’d taken down the poster of noodle-haired Timberlake when I’d asked her.

I made my coffee and sat at the kitchen table, enjoying the silence. I wasn’t thinking about anything other than the rich, hot coffee in the mug in front if me. I wasn’t thinking about the fire or my family or Noah or the fact I’d promised myself I’d ask him on a date if I survived.

Hindsight was a wonderful thing.

When I’d said that to myself, I’d been under immense stress. Life flashing before my eyes kind of stress. It was enough to make me pledge allegiance to a deity I didn’t believe in, never mind tell myself I was going to ask some hot stranger out for a date.

Did I want to go out with him?

Stupid question. I’d seen his penis—not to mention his eyes. Those green eyes of his could drop a nun’s panties to her knees.

It wasn’t a good idea. I knew that. Despite my insistence that I was fine, I knew I needed to recover. I needed to get back to my normal life and find somewhere new to live before I did anything else.

Besides, I didn’t know Noah. Getting to know someone was, of course, the whole point of going on a date, but—

Well, I didn’t want to date Noah.

I just… wanted to sleep with him.

That was a little tidbit I’d keep to myself, of course. If Halley and Ava knew that, I’d never hear the end of it. They’d barely realized who he was yesterday in the hospital before my doctor had stopped by and they had to leave.

I was expecting them to show up after they’d been on their run. I was going to get an earful anyway because of how nonchalant I was.

What was I supposed to do? Scream and shout? I’d already giggled after he’d introduced himself and I’d realized exactly who he was.

I was too shocked to do anything else, so I’d simply pulled the mask on and gotten on with it.

And wondered how soon was too soon to text him.

Was it too soon to text him now?