But as I near the bottom of the staircase, and head out into the café, what was a strange din of voices has quieted down to a complete silence. A very awkward silence.
As I look around, I realize that there are about twenty sets of eyes, all trained on me. Very exposed in very thin boxer shorts.
My hands instinctively cover my crotch, though the rest of me is frozen. I must be dreaming, having one of those nightmares where you show up somewhere public naked.
But as I’m about to pinch myself to wake up, Ethan’s face morphs into a shocked expression behind the bar. He thinks quickly and drops the drink he’s working on, grabbing me an apron to throw on.
“What are you doing, man? Trying to get arrested for indecent exposure?” Ethan asks as I throw the apron on over my head and cover myself up.
“Poppy said the café would be closed,” I reply. “Show’s over everyone, you all missed your chance to take a picture.”
Most of the café patrons go back to their drinks and conversation, and I make a shooing motion towards the last couple lookie-loos.
“It’s the start of the Valentine’s Hot Chocolate Festival, so I opened a little early. I didn’t think Poppy would mind but I didn’t realize that she’d have…” Ethan’s voice trails off as colour blooms on his face.
“Her very attractive husband staying with her?” I quip, as I make my way behind the bar, now just owning the fact that I’m walking around Thistle + Thorne in my underwear.
I grab the tongs and select a few pastries out of the case, and then turn to pour some coffee, being careful to not spill on myself.
“Is this going to be a regular occurrence?” Ethan asks. “Because I’ll make sure to stick to the posted hours.”
Something twinges behind my peck. The fact that the truthful answer to his question isno, but something in me so badly wants it to beyes.
“Might be a good idea,” is all I say as I pass him, sticking a pastry in my mouth so I can carry the rest upstairs.
I push the door open since I had left it ajar on my way down and return to find Poppy on the couch with Cordelia, watching the recap and highlights of my event. The Big Earner has been the top replayed moments of the entire day. At this rate it might make top sports highlights of the year.
“What are you doing in my apron?” She asks when she sees what I’m wearing.
I drop her danish and her coffee on the coffee table in front of her.
“Turns out Ethan decided to open a little early todaysince there was a lineup down the block for hot chocolate,” I inform her.
She slaps a palm to her forehead. Her hair is now tied back in the half-up bun she likes to wear. I’ve started to like it that way too.
“Crap. I forgot all about that,” she groans. “Ethan will probably be so overwhelmed today. I should go down and help him after.”
“He seems to be managing just fine.” I sit down next to her, taking the apron off, and throwing it over the arm of the couch. I lean in to give her a kiss on the cheek and then can’t resist planting a few more along the angle of her jaw. “Just enjoy the day with me. Let’s just be in our own bubble today. Our own, sexy bubble.”
She scrunches her neck with a laugh and pushes me away.
“Okay fine, but the bubble can be sexy after breakfast. And after I finish watching all the highlights,” she says, picking up the remote and rewinding so she can see my trick again.
“Didn’t you watch it live?”
“Yes. But I’m so proud of you I could watch it a million more times and never get tired of it.”
My heart feels like it might burst, having someone—Poppy—care about my skiing maybe as much as I do. Having her say she’sproudof me.
“When do you leave for the final?”
“In a week,” I answer. “But you’re coming with me, right?” A strange feeling rolls around my gut. Nerves. I don’t know if Poppy will be coming with me. We haven’t discussed it. And with my trip secured, Poppy getting the deed to the café, the only thing left for us to do after I win the cup is get adivorce. Six months is what we agreed on, and although we’re a few months out, that date is approaching faster than I’d like.
“To Zermatt?” Poppy’s nose scrunches, and my heart sinks.
I nod.
“I don’t know Jett… I want to but I don’t know if I should be away from the café that long. And my last flare was… it was bad.”
