“Let’s sit down.” Bev untied her apron and started to pour two coffees, but then paused. “You want it iced? You look like you’ve had a day.”
Her small, caring comment surrounded my body in warmth, like I was wrapped in a bulky blanket in winter.
“No, hot is good.”
Bev walked around, and I took in the flour dusting her leggings and her greasy ponytail as we sat at a small table.
“Why aren’t you at dance?” I decided to bring it up, knowing it was a sacrifice for her to be here.
“Couldn’t go today. Fred, the guy who was doing the baking, got a full-time gig over at Eataly he couldn’t say no to. So I’m covering baking my mom’s recipes and the counter. We have an ad up for a counter person and a part-time baker. My mom wants to come back, but I still think she needs to get her strength and cleared.”
“I hate that you had to miss dance.”
As she shrugged and leaned against the counter, I thought she looked tired. This was too much for a young woman like Bev. She should be falling in love, going to bars, dancing, having fun.
“Well, I have other news. I moved in with Price.”
“What?” Her head popped up, and she shrieked.
“It’s a long story, but here’s the abbreviated version. He convinced me to go home, make up with my dad, and of course, he wanted to go with me. So we did, and, yeah, my dad fell for him.”
I couldn’t help rolling my eyes while I said it.
“Then he told my dad about how the Bangladeshi restaurant replaced me with a relative, and he convinced my dad my living arrangements weren’t up to snuff. Price pretty much roped me into moving in with him.” I gulped my coffee like it was water. “So, I need this caffeine more than anything, because today I moved in while Price went to see some professors. Oh crap,” I said suddenly, remembering Johnny idling outside.
I held up a finger.
“One sec,” I said to Bev, then shot up and ran to the door. I waved at Johnny, and he got out of the car. “I’ll take an Uber,” I called out, and he nodded and waved back.
“Living the good life, I see,” Bev said when I made it back to the table.
“Oh, shush.” I knew she was joking. “Anyway, what I’m getting at is, I told Price I was hoping to take some culinary classes. And if you wanted, maybe I could help you at the bakery? If you accept my apology and want to stay friends? I’d do baking or handle the counter or both. I’m still bartending, but I need the money. Price has a lot of these ... trappings,” I said, not knowing what else to call his lifestyle. “But they’re not mine.”
“Really?” Bev smiled for the first time since I came in.
“Yeah, really.”
“That would be awesome. I know my mom would be so glad to have you.”
Addressing the elephant that sat on the table between us, I said, “What about you?”
“Come on, it’s over. Give me a hug. I’ve missed you.” Standing, she pulled me for a huge hug.
Wrapped in her arms, I said, “Under one condition. You don’t skip dance on Mondays anymore.”
“With you here, I won’t.” She gave me another squeeze before releasing me. “Now, tell me all the good stuff. About your dad, and Price ...”
“I will. But I want to—have to—say one more thing.” I wrung my hands like a groom with jitters. “I’m still going to look for my mom. I have to. Otherwise, it will bother me forever. Your mom said she may be able to get me an address.”
Bev nodded. “Of course I don’t want to take that away from you. I also don’t want you to hurt any more than you already do. I’ve learned to live without my dad, and it’s for the best. But I get that we’re two different people.”
“I admire you,” I said, and my gaze dropped to the shiny floor. “I wish, really, honestly, I do ... I wish I could be like you, and say I’m better off and move on. But I can’t. This has become too big for me. I have to find out what happened with my mom.”
Bev ran her hand down my arm and wrapped my fingers in hers. “I get it.”
Price
“Morning.” My lips ran along the nape of Emerson’s neck while my hand lifted her hair, the long strands sifting through my fingers. It was the most delicious moment, topping sitting on the edge of the water tower watching the sunset, cold beer in hand, a soft thigh next to mine.
