"I'm not sexting," I protest, accepting the mug she holds out. "Just confirming lunch plans."
"Mmhmm." Emily smirks. "So… how's paradise now… Shortcake?"
I narrow my eyes. "That name is reserved for Bash and Bash only."
"Ooh, territorial. I like it." She laughs, settling into a worn leather armchair by the window. "Seriously though, you two seem good. Like, really good."
I sit across from her, cupping my hands around the warm mug. "We are. It's... different than I expected."
"Different how?"
"Just..." I struggle to find the words. "Easier? Not that relationships should be hard, but with Ethan, it always felt like work. Like I was constantly trying to be enough. With Bash, it's just... I don't know. Natural."
Emily's teasing expression softens. "That's how it should be, Charlie."
"I know," I say quietly. "It scares me a little, how right it feels."
"After what happened with Ethan, I get why you'd be scared. But Bash isn't Ethan."
"No," I agree, smiling despite myself. "He definitely isn't."
"Emily Whitaker?" a voice calls from the counter.
Emily raises her hand. "That's me!"
The woman behind the counter is in her early sixties, with silver-streaked hair and bright, curious eyes. She carries a small paper bag over to our table.
"Here you are, dear. I threw in a little something extra—some of our homemade gingerbread cookies. You look like you could use the sugar boost with all the shopping you two have been doing."
"Thank you," Emily says, surprised. "How did you know we've been shopping?"
"Oh, those bags aren't exactly subtle," the woman laughs, gesturing to our collection of purchases. "I'm Glenda, by the way. I own this little slice of heaven."
"It's a wonderful place," I tell her sincerely. "We've never been in before."
"First time in Aspen?" She asks, though something in her expression suggests she already knows the answer.
"Oh no, we've been coming here for years," Emily explains. "Our family has a place up on Cottonwood Lane."
"The Whitaker house! Of course," Glenda nods knowingly. "Richard and Margaret's girls. I should have recognized you two. And you must be the one dating that handsome snowboarder," she says, turning to me. "The whole town's talking about you two, you know."
I nearly choke on my coffee. "They are?"
"Aspen may be a big city, but it's a small town to us locals, honey. Word travels fast, especially when it involves a former pro athlete." She winks. "Sebastian Montgomery is quite the catch."
Emily shoots me an amused look. "See? You're famous, Shortcake." She giggles.
"I saw you two at The Alpine the other night," Glenda continues. "Couldn't help noticing. The way he looks at you—well, let's just say we don't see that kind of thing every day."
I feel heat crawling up my neck. "Um, thank you?"
"So, what brings you two in today? Besides the obvious need for the best coffee in Colorado?" Glenda asks, seamlessly changing the subject.
"Present hunting," Emily says. "I just found something for our parents, but we're still browsing."
"Well, if you're looking for unique gifts, you should head down to the Winter Market at the end of the street," she suggests. "It's only here through tomorrow—local artisans, food vendors, the works. Much better than those touristy shops on the main strip."
"That sounds perfect," I say, grateful for the recommendation.
