“I’m surviving.” I take a long drink of my latte. “Michelle, I can’t do this. I can’t fall for my landlord who’s threateningmy business while simultaneously falling for a stranger through letters.”
Michelle blinks. “That was a very specific spiral.”
“I’m spiraling. I’m aware.”
Michelle’s expression softens. “Oh, honey.”
“Don’t. Don’t be nice to me. I can’t handle nice right now.”
“Too bad.” She takes my hand. “You deserve to be happy. You deserve someone who sees you and loves you and makes you feel like you’re worth the risk.”
“What if I’m not though?”
“Not what?”
“Worth the risk. What if Scott—or Coastal Quill—sees the real me and decides I’m too much? Too dramatic? Too romantic? Too impractical?”
“Then he’s an idiot, and we’ll collectively destroy him.” Michelle squeezes my hand. “But I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think you’re terrified because for the first time in eight years, you’re actually letting yourself feel something. And feelings are scary. But they’re also kind of the point.”
“When did you get so wise?”
“I had my own complicated love story with a grumpy businessman, remember? I know the signs.”
“What signs?”
“The ‘I hate him but I can’t stop thinking about him’ signs. The ‘he’s infuriating but also kind of perfect’ signs.”
Before I can respond, Caroline shouts from the register: “Mr. Avery just walked past! He looked at the shop! He’s circling back!”
“He’s what?” I leap up and immediately spill my latte down my shirt. “No. No, no, no. I’m not ready. I look like a disaster.”
“You look fine.”
The bell chimes.
Scott walks in.
He looks like he hasn’t slept. His hair is messy. He’s wearing jeans and a button-down instead of his usual suit, and he looks uncertain in a way I’ve never seen before.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi,” I manage.
Michelle stands. “I should go. I have...coffee shop duties.”
“Coward,” I mutter.
“Good luck,” she whispers back, and abandons me.
Caroline has suddenly become very interested in straightening the graphic novel section, but she’s clearly listening to every word.
Scott and I stand there for a moment in awkward silence.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he says finally. “I was just...walking. And I saw the shop. And I thought...”
“You thought you’d come say hi to your tenant?”
“I thought I’d come see you.”
