My alarm is chiming at five o’clock in the morning right next to my head—what the?Oh…I must have fallen asleep while Kai was talking. I whack my head against the pillow and groan. I fell asleep on the poor guy.
I fumble for my phone to see if he texted me.
Kai:
You must have been tired. I tried to wake you, but all I could hear was your breathing. I convinced myself it wasn’t my boring lawyer story, but that you were exhausted.
More groans come out of my mouth while I text him back.
Ava:
You would be correct…I’m utterly exhausted. And for the record, I like listening to you talk.
I leave it at that, not diving into the way my body feels over text or maybe ever. It might be for the best, but I can’t seem to release him from my grip. My entire body vibrates when I talk to him, like that night at his house.
But it’s back to the grind. This week will be amazing. Groggy as hell, I sling my legs over the side of the bed. Letting out an enormous sigh, I scuff my feet along the floor and hop in the shower.
I’m dressed and head to the kitchen to grab some coffee. Lia is already up, sipping her coffee, and scrolling on her phone. “Morning, sunshine,” she says, not looking up from her phone.
“Morning, Lia. Hyped up for today?” I ask her, walking to sit down at the table with her, not mentioning what happened after she went to her room last night. I’m grateful she doesn’t ask either.
She slowly pulls her eyes up at me, and she smirks. “Oh, yes, I am.”
This is the beginning of a big, exciting week here in Virginia Beach. Today is the start of the VB Food Truck Bonanza. All I need is one high-profile rep to find me. The excitement between the two of us this morning is buzzing.
We finish up our coffee and head down to the beach. It’s a quick walk from our short-term rental. The trucks are lined up along Atlantic Ave. As we walk closer, the smell of all the food mingles. There’s street tacos, seafood, burgers, barbecue, pizza—you name it, it’s probably here. A few other vendors, like mine, aren’t just food-based. Truth be told, I am the only books-on-the-go van with coffee, tea, chai, matcha, baked goodies, and quick breakfast-type foods.
The sun beats down on us, and I’m soaking it up now, all the vitamin D. Once we are in our vans, it’s unbearably hot. Sweating to death is an understatement in August, but seeing the smiling faces of readers and coffee lovers alike makes it all worth my time—and sweat.
“Today is going to be a gorgeous day.” I move my face to the sun, right before hugging Lia. “Thanks for last night.”
“I didn’t do much…you’re welcome. I’m here for you, babe.”
“You’re the best. Let’s get it.”
She walks to her van next door, and I step up into Pages & Brew. Opening up the doors and setting up the small table and chairs, along with a couple of small bookshelves. This week, we are featuring local authors in the area. They were so fun to hang out with, and we’ve become instant friends, along with a couple of locally women-owned businesses.
Back in the van, I quickly check the shelves and fix any misplaced books I didn’t finish yesterday before closing up. The last thing on my list is to start the coffee.
Once everything is complete, I wait for the crowds: the lines, laughter, and the noise of all the kids. There’s a carnival right down the street, so this week will be exceptional for all who come to enjoy the festivities. There will be families lining the streets, children laughing and having fun running around, and people eating great food. The smell of the tacos next to me and the cart around the corner with kettle corn mingle around me.
If all goes as planned, this week's revenue will cover at least eight months of expenses. The van has been more than paying for itself, but it’s comforting to see such a large profit in a short period.
Lia jumps up at the window and yells, “Hey! All set, babe?”
“Yup, I was thinking about all the revenue this week will bring in.”
“It will be better than last year,” she says, holding up double fingers crossed and squeezing her eyes shut.
I move closer to the window. “It absolutely will.”
THIRTEEN
Kai
Ikeep replaying the conversation with Ava last night and reading her morning text message. Surprised at the way my body sinks into the bed and how my chest aches for her to be lying in bed with me. Holding her, my hands gliding over her smooth skin and inhaling her intoxicating scent of cinnamon and espresso beans.
This was so unexpected when she floated into my life. And I thought time with her was fleeting. After all our texts, we are tied a little tighter together than I imagined.
