“I might take you up on that.”
“Do. Anytime. We can alphabetize our trauma over hot mugs of tea.” She hugged me, then brushed my hair back over my shoulder. “I’m going to take care of you, Eliza. Like I should have been doing all along. Don’t you worry about a thing.”
“What do you mean, take care of me?”
“It’s not for you to worry about. I got you, okay?”
And I stood behind the counter, hands still trembling, but heart a little steadier. She was probably going to come back tomorrow with a stack of books to help me sort out my life.
I helped the waiting customer then stood behind the counter long after everyone had left, hands still trembling, heart steadier than it had been all day. I loved her for that—for the way she showed up, no questions asked, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I would let my sisters love me, I decided. I would let them stand close. But I couldn’t let them stand in the line of fire.
Graham didn’t get to the top of Portland’s restaurant scene by being careless or kind, and I knew better than to underestimate what he was capable of when he felt cornered. If this was going to end, it had to be because I faced him myself.
Outside, the Coffee Cabin lights hummed softly against the dark, and I drew in a breath, squaring my shoulders as I tried to figure out what to do.
Chapter 25
Nate
Nancy was holding down the front like a boss, dishing out sass and pie recommendations with equal flair. I leaned against the pass-through counter and watched her wrangle a table of teenagers with the patience of a saint and the dry humor of someone who had absolutely no time for nonsense.
“I’m stepping out for a bit,” I told her.
She didn’t look up. “Tell Eliza she should experiment with lavender lattes next time she’s feeling fancy.”
I didn’t reply, mostly because I didn’t trust myself to say anything that wouldn’t give me away.
Because yes—I was going to see Eliza.
Yes—I’d been thinking about her since the moment I left her side.
And yes—I cared about her more than was probably wise at this point. But I wasn’t walking away from her. Not even close. She was all I could think about.
The Coffee Cabin came into view just as a breeze picked up. She was at the walk-up window, pulling shots, multitasking like it was an Olympic sport. From this distance, I could see that her shoulders were tight, her movements sharp and clipped. Not her usual rhythm.
She was holding it together.
But I could tell she was frayed at the edges.
I parked and walked up slowly, not wanting to startle her. When she turned, her face shifted instantly—something unreadable flickered behind her eyes. But she smiled at me anyway. Not the soft, teasing one I liked best. This one had a little too much effort tucked into the corners.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice low.
“Hey,” she replied, brushing a stray hair behind her ear.
“You okay?”
She hesitated.
I didn’t rush her. I knew she’d tell me everything when she was ready. I knew Graham was stirring up feelings she thought she was over. It was only a matter of time before she let it go. Patience was the key.
Finally, she said, “I’m working on it.” She let out a sigh. “Graham was here earlier. He got me shook up. I’m sorry.”
I nodded and didn’t push. Instead, I accepted the cup of coffee she handed me—perfectly made, just the way I liked it. No asking. No notes. She just knew. “Thanks. You always remember.”
“Well, you always drink the same thing,” she said, a trace of a smile pulling at her lips. “I’d call it predictable, but I’m too polite.”
