Totally and Completely Fine(92)

He squeezed my hand. “You’re good for a lot of things.”

In the darkness, I blushed.

“My mom was usually too drunk to remember to go to the store, so I took care of food most of the time, and I wasn’t great at it. I had to make do with the cheap stuff in the half-off aisles.”

I remembered what that had been like.

“I’d never knock the perfection of buttered noodles,” I said. “Or ramen.”

“Or Spam,” he said.

We exchanged a smile.

“Do you do this a lot?” he asked. “Family dinners?”

“We do,” I said.

“It’s nice.”

“You’re welcome whenever you’re free,” I said. “I always make too much anyways.”

The thought of him coming over, sitting at the table with us, telling Lena stories, making us laugh, eating all our pasta, made me happy. Comforted.

“There is nothing like small-town hospitality,” he said.

“One of the perks.”

The stars were out tonight. It was perfect stargazing weather. For a moment, I thought about asking if he’d like to go—if he’d stay out late with me.

But he spoke before I could.

“I should probably head out,” he said. “Early morning rehearsal.”

I nodded, but he didn’t get up.

“How are they going? Rehearsals?”

“Good,” he said. “It’s a great show. I really missed it.”

“Missed what?”

“Theatre,” he said. “The chance to connect with people directly. Film and TV are great, but nothing beats a live audience—they bring so much to a performance—and you can’t prepare for any of it. Everything is in the moment. Pure. Honest.” He looked at me. “I’ve missed other things too.”

My heart leapt.

“Can I take you out tomorrow night?” he asked.

“Okay,” I said, sounding breathless.

He grinned. “Great,” he said, standing.

I did the same, dusting off the back of my jeans.

“Good night, Lauren,” he said, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“Good night,” I said.

Chapter 49

Now

Gabe was in a mood.

I too was in a mood, but while mine was all sunshine and puppies, Gabe’s was far more thunderous.

“Will you stop that?” I asked.

He kept pacing up and down in front of the checkout desk. When he ignored me, I stepped out from behind the counter and grabbed his arm.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“Clearly,” I said. “Well, your nothing is killing the vibe in here.”

He looked around.

“No one is here,” he said.

I’d meant that he was killing my vibe, but if I said that, I’d have to explain why I was in such a good mood.

I couldn’t wait to see Ben tonight.

“Almost no one,” I whispered. “But the lunch rush will be starting soon, and I’d prefer not to have my brother stomping around like a cartoon villain while customers are here.”

Gabe let out a groan and shoved both hands through his hair.

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Can’t,” he said.

“Then can you at least go to the office and have your tantrum there?”

“It’s not a tantrum,” he said. “I’m dealing with some serious things, okay?”

An unpleasant thought popped into my head.

“Did you and Chani break up?” I asked, really hoping that wasn’t the cause.

“What? No,” Gabe said, and then gave me a piercing look. “Why? Did she say something?”

“No—”

“Because that would just be the cherry on top of this whole day.”

“It’s eleven-thirty.”

“Argh!” he said, and stomped back to the office, slamming the door behind him.

The store rattled. I sighed.

Until Gabe showed up, my morning had been going rather nicely. I’d set out books and hung up new products on the wall while thinking about Ben. About seeing him tonight. About telling him that I wanted to give this thing between us a try. A real try.

I’d even caught myself whistling.

But then Gabe had stormed in like a big, pouty thundercloud.

“FUCK!”

The office door barely muffled him at all.

I gave an apologetic smile to Mrs. Bowen, who had just placed her books down on the counter.

“You know how actors are,” I said. “So dramatic.”

She gave me a small smile but glanced back at the office door with concern. Once she was gone, my own smile disappeared.

“What the fuck, Gabe?” I flung the door open.

He was sitting on the couch, head in hands.

“What is going on?” I asked, now genuinely concerned.

“I can’t talk about it,” he said, and looked at his phone. “Goddammit, where is Ollie?”

“Is it something to do with the theatre?” I asked.

Gabe ignored me, presumably calling Ollie again.

“If you don’t get your English ass down here in fifteen minutes, I’m coming to you,” he said, and then hung up.