Free Leaves by Michael Baron

customer showed up.
    â€œYou look good,” she said when she returned. “Lost a couple of pounds?”
    â€œI think I might have. I’m doing a lot more walking now that I’m closer to town.” The fact that he was also doing a lot less eating and a lot more worrying since he moved out was something he didn’t feel the need to mention.
    â€œYou look good,” she said again.
    â€œThanks. You look spectacular, as usual.” Patrice always looked beautiful to him. Even as he packed to move out, he saw her face and thought about how beautiful she was.
    â€œThanks,” she said with a demure smile that only made her look more appealing. “You like your new place?”
    â€œIt’s really nice. Older than our place, but really well maintained. You’d hate the kitchen, but it’s fine for me.”
    â€œIn other words, it has a microwave.”
    â€œYou got it.”
    Two customers came up at the same time with two more right behind them. Tyler stepped to the side and watched Patrice’s brow crease as the first customer sent her in multiple directions to choose a single piece of this chocolate and then maybe just one of that chocolate and then quizzed her on several others without choosing any of them. When the customer again took her in his direction, Tyler said, “Do you want me to give you a hand?”
    Patrice faked a swoon and said, “I’d love that.”
    Tyler moved behind the counter and helped the next several people in line. He’d been around the store enough that answering questions was easy. By the time Patrice finished with her first customer, he’d taken care of everyone else.
    â€œThanks,” she said when the little rush was over.
    â€œYou’re welcome. Where’s Lindsay?”
    â€œIthaca. She’s in college now.”
    â€œJeez, I forgot she graduated. So who’s doing weekends with you?”
    â€œA girl named Marisa. She’s usually here by now, but she needed to come in at one thirty today.”
    â€œGood thing I stopped by then, huh?”
    â€œYeah, good thing.” She smiled again and Tyler realized he desperately wanted to kiss her.
    â€œI don’t work free, you know,” he said. “This is going to cost you a bag of sour gummy spiders.”
    â€œTake two.”
    â€œYeah, maybe I’ll do that.” He watched her watching him. He couldn’t remember the last time Patrice’s eyes had lingered on him this long. He felt a little buzzed by the experience.
    He wished they could be alone together. There was no one else in the store at the moment, but he had a much longer respite in mind. Tyler knew it would get busy again soon and a lot busier later in the afternoon, especially given the weather.
    â€œWant me to stick around until Marisa gets here?”
    Patrice broke eye contact to look at her watch. “She’ll be around pretty soon. I’m sure I’ll be okay. Not that I’m kicking you out.”
    Tyler wasn’t sure if that meant he should stay or go. In the past, he never worried about outstaying his welcome in the store. Certainly Patrice seemed comfortable enough with his being here now. And he definitely didn’t want to leave. It felt good to be here with her.
    Then he thought about the new girl coming in and wondered what kind of introduction Patrice would make. She’d probably just say, “This is Tyler,” like he was someone she hung out with occasionally. That wouldn’t work for him.
    â€œI’ve got a bunch of things to take care of, actually,” he said. “I was just passing by the store and thought I’d see how you were doing.”
    â€œI’m glad you stopped in.”
    He reached over and hugged her, kissing her cheek as they separated. He walked around to the front of the counter as another customer came into the store. He turned back to Patrice.
    â€œYou want to maybe have dinner