How to stop sabotaging relationships with women.
How not to be a workaholic.
The cursor blinks mockingly in the search bar. I slam the laptop shut.
Maybe Jake is right. Maybe I just need to man up and talk to her.
But why is the thought of that more terrifying than the thought of her wanting to be with me?
CHAPTER 6
VIVIAN
The Aurora Coffee representative sits across from my desk, her tablet displaying charts and projections that make my head spin. Professional, polished, and utterly convinced she’s offering me a gift.
“Miss Gold, I want to be clear about our timeline,” she says, tapping her stylus against the screen. “We need a decision by Friday.ThisFriday. After that, we’ll have to pursue other options in this area.”
Other options. Like opening their store anyway and watching me slowly go out of business.
“I understand. The offer is generous,” I manage.
“Very generous.” She slides another document across my desk. “We’ve done our research, Miss Gold. Your lease renewal is coming up, your customer base is limited, and frankly, your location lacks the foot traffic necessary for sustainable growth.”
Everything she says is true, which makes it worse. If I could hold out for six, maybe nine months, I know I’ll get out of the red. Ihave faith in my coffee shop and this neighborhood—I just need time.
“I’ll be in touch,” I say, standing and extending my hand. At this point, I don’t care if I’m being rude, but I need this meeting to be over. It’s not like she had new information. When she requested this meeting, I knew it was just another strong-arm tactic.
I sigh as I join Mika behind the counter, frustration vibrating through my body. I hate that Aurora Coffee knows I’m struggling.
I automatically scan the crowd for a familiar figure in dark clothes, but it’s clear Owen isn’t going to show up today, either.
My chest twists—part anger, part grief, part heat I can’t seem to kill. We had sex. Not fumbling, forgettable sex. It was hot and consuming, so much so that it was almost terrifying in its intensity. And then...nothing. He vanished. Not a text. Not a smile across the counter. Nothing.
I force a smile for my customers, but inside I’m screaming—at Aurora Coffee for their ultimatum, at Owen for disappearing when I thought we had a real connection, and at myself for believing in fairy tales.
“Hey,” Mika says during a brief lull, glancing around the shop. “Have you seen Owen today? He usually comes in by now, right?”
I bite back a bitter laugh. “He hasn’t been in for a week.”
“A week?” She pauses in wiping down the espresso machine. “That’s weird. When was the last time he didn’t come in?”
Never. Owen Blake has been as reliable as sunrise for six months.
“I don’t know what’s going on with him,” I say, which is technically true even if it’s not the whole story.
Mika studies my face with an insight that makes me uncomfortable. “You okay? You look like you haven’t slept.”
“I’m fine,” I say, brushing away my feelings. “Just stressed aboutthe Aurora Coffee situation.”
She doesn’t look convinced. “Vivian, what happened last week? You said Owen came over to help with your laptop, right? And now he’s suddenly avoiding the shop like it’s radioactive?”
Heat crawls up my neck. Of course, Mika would connect the dots. She’s been watching Owen and me dance around each other for months.
“It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how? Did he try something? Because I will absolutely—”
“No, nothing like that.” I interrupt quickly.
