“Right?” Ginny rested her hand on the roof of her sedan, giving it an affectionate pat. “Ya know what a friend would do in this case?”
“What’s that?”
“A friend would buy another friend aforgive me for kissing you and then immediately regretting itpistachio latte and a donut to go with it before flag football practice.”
He mirrored Ginny, facing her and placing his hand on the roof of the car but sighed with something like relief. “I would love to buy you a coffee, Gin. And, can we forget… everything?”
“Ha! Not a chance.” She shrugged and placed both hands on his broad shoulders. “If you think I will ever forget the feeling of kissing you, Ryan, you’re more dense than I gave you credit for. And, I may be me, but I don’t think you’ll be forgetting that kiss any time soon either.”
She patted his shoulders just like she’d patted her car and gave Ryan her biggest and brightest smile. Ryan’s blush deepened into the most delicious shade of pink, and Ginnyalmostfelt bad for embarrassing him.
“Now, let's go get that coffee you owe me, buddy.”
14
HOLY FOREVER
CHRIS TOMLIN
“Well don’t you look adorable today,” Chloe said as Ginny pushed through the swinging kitchen doors and into Good Start. “Ya got somethin’ going on?”
Ginny had thought about going to the record store just to make sure Melody Man hadn’t left anI changed my mindnote but thought better of that self-doubt and decided to hang in the shop instead. “Just needed a change of scenery.” She gestured to the leather bag hanging off her shoulder where her laptop peeked out from the top. “Have some work to do.”
“Sounds good, Ginny, and I love your dress. It’s perfect for fall.”
“Thanks.” Ginny glanced down at the sage green dress she wore, with faux buttons down the front and a v-neck accentuated with dainty gold jewelry.
“Want your usual? An americano with a pump of pistachio, right?” Chloe smiled and flicked her braid over her shoulder, finishing the steamed milk on a drink and closing the lid before handing it over to a customer. “Have a good start to your day!”
“Um, yeah. That’d be great. Thanks so much, Chloe!”
The place had emptied. The regulars were likely saving their coffee visits for that evening, the kickoff of the Bicentennial Celebration. Chloe began making her drink and chatting with Ginny as she glided behind the counter. “So, we never really get to catch up. Tell me what you’re doing nowadays. You’re doin’ graphic design, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve been doing freelance work since college. I’ve been thinking about going back for a masters in marketing, but I’m not sure just yet. What about you?”
Chloe gave Ginny’s drink a light stir, put a lid on, and presented it to her, adding a sprinkled and perfectly decorated hedgehog cookie to the treat, just like Ginny had seen her offer Davey countless times before. “Well, I’m saving up money for my own place, actually. My own shop, that is. I’ve been workin’ here part time and also at a private company based out of Atlanta that offers personal chefs, meal plans, and catering for events. It’s basically a bunch of fancy folk who can’t cook for themselves. It’s awesome. And, ” she added, “I was so thankful when your parents gave me this gig. They know I’m short-term but offered me the job all the same. It’s gonna help me get my own place so much faster.”
“What kinda shop?”
Chloe smiled proudly. “Southern cuisine, of course.”
Ginny held up the cookie. “No sprinkled cookies?”
Her friend batted her eyes. “Oh, I’m sure there’ll be cookies.”
The bell rang over the shop and both their attention was pulled to Ryan as he stepped through the door wearing faded jeans, a baseball tee with dark purple sleeves, his glasses, and a backwards ball cap. He raised his hand slightly in greeting to them both.
Chloe sighed, loudly, and then whispered. “I’m always just a little surprised by how good lookin’ that man is. He’s like adorky, but hot, librarian. I bet he plays Dungeons and Dragons on the weekends.”
“Actually, he prefers Catan.” Ryan had talked her into playing one time with Georgia and Lake, and Ginny had never seen him as intense as he’d been when asking questions like,“Do you have any sheep?”or“I’ll trade you one ore for three wheat.” Goosebumps covered her arm just thinking about it.
Ginny’s smile faltered, but she turned back to Chloe. “Ryan’s awesome. You should go for it.”
Chloe rolled her eyes and leaned over the counter, propping herself up on her elbows. “Ginny, what kinda woman do you think I am?”
“I’m just sayin’ if ya—”
Chloe’s voice lowered, “I have no interest in pursuin’ a man who’s clearly hung up on another woman. Particularly if that woman is a friend of mine. A friend I’d like to keep. And a friend who is clearly crazy about that particular man.” She raised an eyebrow and lifted her chin. “Go get ‘em, Gin. I’ll bring his usual over in a few.”
