Both of our weekend-only college temps get hit with the flu, so only because I love Toni do I drag my ass out of bed at ten in the morning and cover their shifts at the Edgy Envelope. I’ve had a coffee and an espresso to make up for my lack of sleep, but I’m not sure if I even need the caffeine. I’m pure adrenaline, child-before-Christmas excitement.

At two minutes to closing, I stand at the counter, powering down the iPads and tapping my toes to Toni’s Electric Funk playlist. Just as the iPad screens go dark, the bell dings over the door of the shop. I glance up and my heart does a pirouette in my chest.

“Jamie.”

Toni pops out of the back office and glances eagerly between us. It’s the most unsubtle thing I’ve ever seen.

My ultimate revenge plan might be set aside, but I’ll still have my little moments of vengeance. I throw Toni a look over my shoulder. “You’ve seen him. I’m leaving. Now, showtime’s over. Get out of here.”

Toni shakes his head solemnly. “I even baked you cookies.”

I pop one in my mouth just to make a point. “I upped my price. I demand cupcakes now.”

“Rude!” he yells, before disappearing into the office.

I turn to face Jamie, who’s watching me closely, a small, private grin warming his face. “What are you doing here?” I ask him.

He shrugs. A neat one-shoulder Jamie Shrug. “You told me you had to work after all. So I stopped by your place, picked up your overnight bag, then fed Cornelius and gave him some TLC. Now I’m here to walk you home.”

“Oh.” My heart’s a puddle. “Okay.”

As I finish tidying up the counter, my excitement over tonight dims a little, replaced by nervousness. Jamie’s so precise and excellent at everything he does—what if he doesn’t like how I do sex? What if we’re so right in all these ways I’ve never been right with someone else, but our sex is all wrong? What if I have one of my super-clumsy days and I accidentally elbow him in the nose or knee him in the junk or—

“Spinning your gears, I see.” Jamie’s watching me closely, one hip leaned against the counter. He’s getting almost Juliet-level good at intuiting my thoughts, and I’m not sure I like it.

“Sorry. I’m good. Fine. Totally okay.”

He smiles, but maybe there’s a little nervousness in that smile, too. Jamie stretches out his hand and pushes off the counter. “Come on.”

I round the glass top, tug on my jacket, and call goodbye to Toni, taking Jamie’s hand as we leave the Edgy Envelope.