24
Slater strolls in the front door of the café right as I finish ringing up a customer. I watch his hands ball into fists at his sides when his gaze snags on Ruby laughing as she rings out one of the tourists still hanging around.
What the hell?
Shaking his head, he makes his way over to my counter. I have his usual blueberry brioche danish set aside and hand it over before he can ask.
“What’d that guy do to you?”
“Nothing. He looks like a prick. Ruby shouldn’t be flirting with him.” He takes an angry bite of the pastry, the brown sugar crumble falling onto his coveralls.
“Right, and you care about who Ruby flirts with because…”
“Because if she falls in love with a tech bro from another city, she’ll leave Cupid’s Cove! You don’t want your sister to leave Cupid’s Cove, do you?”
“I think Ruby needs to do what makes her happy. Follow where her heart takes her. If that’s away from Cupid’s Cove, then so be it. I’d manage without her.”
Slater scoffs. “Being in love has made you softer than you were before. You never would have been so okay with the idea of Ruby leaving. Unless… No.No.Saint Valentine you better not be considering moving away. Donotleave me in this godforsaken town all by myself!”
I hate that he can read me so easily. But he’s right. I have been contemplating moving to Salem so I can be with Mikey. I’m sure I can find a space for a bakery there, or maybe we could expand. I haven’t looked over our finances, but it’s not entirely off the table. I don’t want to keep doing this distance thing with Mikey, even if it’s not even that far and hasn’t even been a day. I physically ache to be near her again.
“You wouldn’t be alone, you’d have Stella and Claire,” I argue. “Besides, Ruby isn’t going anywhere. He’s just a customer, it’s not like he proposed to her and they’re running off into the sunset. You’re not usually this damn dramatic. What the hell is going on with you?”
“Sorry, man. Lots on my mind recently. Seeing you with Mikey made me rethink my bachelor status….” He trails off, the words dying mid sentence before he continues, “Speaking of, I came to ask you if you think Mikey would consider working for me?”
I want to press him about this bachelor status comment, but I roll with his change of subject. “I’d like to think she would, but I don’t know. You’d have to ask her.”
Slater nods. “Great. Then I’ll ask her when I take you down to pick up your van.”
“Slater, you don’t have to offer her a job just because I?—”
“I’m not,” he interrupts. “I’m going to offer her a job because I could use an extra set of hands. Business is picking up, and having someone else to help around the shop would be good. Obviously, I’ll have to get a reference from her boss, but fromwhat you’ve told me, she seems like she knows what she’s doing. If it helps make my best friend happy, that’s just a plus.”
Slater hates when I try to hug him. He’s never been one for PDA, but I can’t help myself. I round the counter and wrap him in a hug, and though he grunts in protest, he gives me a pat on the back.
“Why wait until my van’s ready? Let’s head down today and ask her!” It’s the perfect excuse to go see my girl. I’ve been trying to convince Ruby to let me take her car, but she refuses because then someone would have to come with me so I could drive my van home.
Details, details.
Slater glances back to where Ruby’s wiping the counter down. “What about the café?”
“Ruby can handle it.”
“Ruby can handle what?” Ruby asks, making her way towards us.
Slater’s spine snaps straight when she stands next to him, and a flash of something passes across his face.
Okay, so something isdefinitelyup with them.
“Saint’s trying to convince me to take him to Mikey right now so I can offer her a job.”
Ruby’s face lights up as she gasps. “You think she’ll move here? Oh, I would love to have another girlfriend. It was so fun hanging out with her and Stella. I can man the café. You two head down.”
“You guys think I can just up and leave the shop unmanned?” Slater asks, crossing his arms.
“You’re here right now, so… yeah. True love is on the line, Slater. Where’s your heart? Oh, wait. It’s in your dick.”
“Okay… moving on. Slater, I’ll owe you big time if you take me today.” I’m not above begging, and he knows it.
