Bitsy chokes on her tea.
Chandler doesn’t seem to realize I’ve just insulted him. He’s still smirking while he examines the puzzle piece. “Willa! Willa, get me a cappuccino,” he calls.
Willa eyes us both from behind the counter. Zen appears in the doorway to the kitchen, and the scent of lemon scones hits my nose.
“Aw, fuck, bring me three of Gram-gram’s scones too,” he says.
Willa looks at me, then back at him. “You pay first when you’re a customer here.”
He freezes.
But only for a second before he aims a grin at her then turns it on me. “You’re gonna make me pay for food and drink here now? I thought we were friends.”
Does anyone else think that grin is smarmy, or is it just me?
Probably not just me.
“Why’s he gonna give food away to his friends when you never did?” one of the older guys says.
“You know who this guy is, Jimmy?” Chandler fires back. “He’s so loaded, he makes you look broke. He can afford a drink and a snack for an old friend.”
My shoulders hitch. “Classy, Sullivan. Very classy.”
“Not like Sabrina isn’t telling them all the dirt on you anyway.” He leans forward, putting his elbows on top of my puzzle. “She giving you shit? She thinks she runs the place.”
“No.”
“Oh, fuck, dude—did you fire her?”
Is that panic?
Is he afraid of Sabrina? AfraidforSabrina? Worried about the café?
I might’ve only been here a week, but I know why this place runs so smoothly.
It’s her.
“Not yet,” I reply. “Do you think I should?”
That’s panic.
That’s sheer panic.
He glances back at the counter. Zen’s still watching from the doorway. Willa’s straightening the remaining pastries in the bakery case.
Sabrina’s not in sight.
The scent of lemon scones is getting stronger though. She’s back there. She’s baking.
I didn’t understand at first why she didn’t bake them early in the morning, but I’m catching on. Word spreads that they’re fresh out of the oven, and we get an influx of customers for the lunch rush.
Chandler looks back at me, andfuck.
This would be easier if he wasn’t visibly gulping and that wasn’t undeniable concern clouding his expression. “This place would die without her.”
“So?”
He blanches.
