“Sure.” He walks up to the bar. “Have you seen any new talent for the restaurant? Two of my kids are finishing culinary school and moving on.”
They almost always move on. Very few kids who grow up here stay here forever. It’s hard to remember sometimes that this is the place for them to do just that. They become part of my family and then disappear a few years later. “Cammie would probably do well.” But her absence would be felt around here. She’s one of the better bakers. “I’ll keep an eye out for a few more that show promise.”
“Thanks. You and Dyce still working out tonight?”
“Don’t remind me.” It’s going to hurt even worse than normal, and Dyce doesn’t understand doing anything by half measures.
“Aren’t you the one who started the workout group?”
“Why does everyone keep reminding me of that when I try to hide from a workout?” Which I try to do every week.
“You can always come train with the guys. We’d go easy on you.”
That’s part of what I’m afraid of. The other part is…Well, I don’t want to think about it. “Yeah, right. Ethan taught you guys only one way, and that involves torment and pain.” Ochs kept up his methods.
Ace grins. “He’s the best. But we’d go easier on you than Dyce. I promise.”
“That one I believe. She needs to start training with you guys first.”
Ace grins. “I’ve offered to let her beat me up anytime.”
“Let her.” I laugh. No one lets Dyce do anything.
Izzy opens the door from the kitchen. “Fiona. Can I talk to you?”
It’s going to be one of those days where I don’t get a single second to breathe, let alone finish making another cup of coffee. “Of course, Izzy.” She hasn’t ever worked at the bakery. Maddox got her an internship at some fancy investment company since she’s got a knack for numbers. “Talk to you later, Ace.” I hand him his cup and give the machine one last longing look.
Izzy looks down. “Could we talk privately?”
Uh oh. That only means one thing…boys! Why do all these kids assume I know anything about dealing with boys? I haven’t been on a date ever. “Of course. Let’s head to the picnic table.” Coffee will happen soon.
Izzy climbs up onto the tabletop and crosses her legs. “There’s this guy at work.”
I knew it. There’s always a guy involved when it comes to trouble. Carefully, I climb up next to her, though my dress doesn’t allow me to get as comfortable. “At your internship?”
“Yeah. It’s amazing. I never thought someone like me would get a chance like this.” Izzy’s eyes light up as she talks. “If all goes well and I do well in college, I could end up becoming a trader or investment banker. Do you know the last thing my father said to me before I ran away? He told me I was too stupid to do anything but spit out babies and clean for a man. And he wasn’t even sure if I was smart enough to do that. My therapist said he was wrong. That I’m smart enough to do whatever I want in life. But I didn’t believe it. Did you believe your father when he said stuff like that?”
Would I have believed a man telling me that I was stupid? When I was younger, probably. But a father…maybe it was a good thing I never had one. “Your therapist was right. You can do anything you want to do, and we’ll help you make that happen. Did you have a question about your internship?”
“Not the internship…” Izzy bites her lip. “There’s this guy. I don’t know. I think he likes me, but I’m not sure. How do you know if a guy likes you, not like a friend likes you, but likes likes you?”
If only it were as easy as saying they ask you out and bring you flowers, but in today’s dating scene, life isn’t that easy. For teenagers, it’s got to be practically impossible. A boy doesn’t tug on your braids and dunk your hair in his inkwell to flirt with you. “Sometimes the clues are subtle. A guy who likes you will try to spend as much time as possible with you. He’ll smile when you talk, laugh at your jokes, even bad ones, and try to touch your hand or arm—which you don’t have to let him do, because physical contact is always a choice for both parties. No one has the right to touch you without your consent.”
“Paisley goes on and on about consent. My body, my choice, but no one will ever want to touch me.”
Oh, the drama. “You’re still young. Give the boys a few years to figure out how to walk, let alone think.”
Her lips tip up. “Milo tripped over his own two feet during orientation yesterday. He almost broke his nose. It bled for like five minutes. So gross.”
“Totally.” It’s hard not to smile. Just watch, Izzy is going to be pining away for Milo or some other boy all too soon. They all do. “Enjoy your internship. Give it a little while before you worry about if a boy likes you or not. There will be plenty of time to figure it out if he does.”
“You’re right. I need to focus on work. I have so many cool things to learn. Did you know that…”
My insufficiently caffeinated brain goes in circles trying to figure out the technical jargon she babbles on about.
Why didn’t I just drink an extra cup before work?
Because it’s better being sipped at this table in silence.
