nothing about himself but did participate with the other’s in the group. In fact, he’d engaged a lot with them, in that social way and that gift of the gab he had. He was still doing the appeasing thing he did, clearly. I’d seen it on more than one occasion with myself. The last time he’d made me look at him. Just look at him to calm down.
“Listen to me and get out of your head.”
I heard his voice in a paraphrase circulating my brain, how I had come down from panic. He was really good at that, keeping others from panicking.
“We’ll take a short break, everyone, and maybe those who haven’t shared yet can. Though, of course, you’re by no means obligated, as always.”
I faced forward to find a woman’s eyes on me, the one who’d worn the beanie hat. She winked at me, acknowledging me before I rushed out of my chair and immediately went to get coffee at the group’s coffeemaker.
Of course, I wasn’t the only one with thoughts to head there, and the guy at the brewer stood ready as if waiting for me.
Apparently, he was. Ramses literally had two cups of coffee in his hands, one he gave to me the moment I got up there. At this point, he seemed to have his life together more than myself.
“Thank you,” I said, taking it but not drinking. Something told me it’d go down in nothing but a lump.
“No problem.” He eased out of the way for the crowd, both of us did. He tipped the cup in my direction. “So, Coping with Change.”
“Coping with Change,” I mumbled. “Your mom suggested it.” Kind of a lie, kind of the truth. She’d actually suggested bereavement for me. My jaw moved. “I have a lot of changes. You know, being new here. I also just got divorced, so…”
“Right.” He lifted his coffee again. I hadn’t told him I’d just gotten divorced, but he knew about it. He nodded. “So, I guess you’re not stalking me then?”
“Not.”
He appeared to be let down, feigning it before chuckling. “Mom suggested this to me. Texted me with the details about a week ago, but I’m finally getting off my ass to do it. Apparently, group therapy will help me with ‘my attitude.’”
I frowned.
“I’ve got my own changes I’m going through.” He shrugged. “Most recently, coming back home. I used to go to Brown University before Pembroke.”
“Yeah, she told me,” I informed him, and when he blinked, I thought to say more as well. “Not the details, but that you used to go there. That you don’t now and that you maybe got into some trouble.”
“Ah. Seems my life is an open book.” His brow lifted, not much humor there. Not like he usually had anyway. He took a sip of his coffee, but when he cringed, I laughed.
That was until I tasted mine.
It was freaking terrible, the epitome of, and seeing my face, Ramses took my cup.
“Let’s, uh,” he started, making quick work of them both by tossing the paper cups in the trash. After that, he ventured over to his stuff. He slid those long arms into his coat, and when he popped his collar, I asked him what was up. He laughed. “I think I’ve had enough coping. I’m going to go get a real cup of coffee.”
“You’re playing hooky?” I eyed him, being coy, something I never did. Well, before him.
“Maybe. You game? I don’t see you trying to cope with a lot of change either.” He leaned in. “You know, since you basically almost ran me down trying to leave.”
I shoved him and immediately noticed when my hand lingered. How it burned at even just a touch of him. He made it so easy to be in his presence, and though I definitely shouldn’t be ditching anything to go and be with him, I did notice my way of coping, feeling better, only seemed to happen as of late with him around.
Bringing my hand back, I studied the room. “Promise not to tell Evie?”
But he was already grabbing my stuff. He handed me my coat. “As long as you promise not to tell my mom.”
*
Ramses chose a donut place, one easy to walk to downtown. We hadn’t had to drive and made quick work of dodging the intensifying snow. We eased inside the shop like we had that night for pizza, but this time, he let me order for myself. Not that I didn’t want him to order