He was still leaning over the machine.“Even if I didn’t, do you think anything you could do would make this machine work?”
He did have a good point.“How do you know what you’re doing?”
“I looked up this machine on my phone.Do you know how old this thing is?”
“Considering I got it used when I opened the Steaming Brew, I’d say it is upwards of seven years old.”
“Try twelve years old.And with you using it every day, I’m shocked it lasted that long.”
So was she.“But the question is, can it work until I can get a new one?”
“I don’t know.When will the new one be delivered?”
“Next year.”
He let out a laugh.“Sorry.But there’s no chance it’s going to last that long.”After he put it back together except for the back panel, he plugged it in.“Let’s find out if anything I did helped.”
Behind her back, she crossed her fingers.She didn’t want him to see how desperate she was for the machine to work.
He turned to her.“Go ahead and turn it on.”
As he stood next to her, she pressed the button.The little red light came on that indicated it had power.She placed a cup beneath the dispenser and then pressed a button.Her breath hitched in the back of her throat as she waited for something—anything—to happen.
There was the briefest whirling sound before it changed to a grinding sound.It sure didn’t sound good.It certainly wasn’t the way the machine normally sounded.
“Turn it off and unplug it again.”He moved so he could see the back of the machine.
She sighed and went back to making sure everything was restocked for the next day.Because she wasn’t good at just standing around when she was worried.That usually ended up in her chattering about nonsense, and that was the last thing she wanted to do with Brad.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when Brad said, “I think I know what happened.Let’s try it again.”
She was certain he was wasting his time.Her luck had run out.
When she looked at him to tell him not to worry about it, he had an expectant look on his face.So, she plugged in the machine once more and went through the same process as before.This time the whirling sound was followed by a hum.It still wasn’t the right sound.
She turned off the machine before turning to him.“Thank you for trying.I appreciate it.”The weight of disappointment settled over her.“But the machine has brewed its last espresso.”
He had his head lowered as he stared at his phone.She wasn’t even sure he’d heard her.
Then he lifted his head.“Unplug it again.”
She shook her head.Enough was enough.“It’s getting late.I appreciate you trying to fix it, but it’s time to give up.”
“Just unplug it.”When she didn’t move, he said, “Come on, Abby.Just give me one more try.”
With a resigned sigh, she did as he asked.When whatever he tried failed just like the other attempts, she was putting her foot down.Tomorrow was a big day between their fake relationship, running the coffeeshop, and making sure the surprise engagement party went off without a hitch.She needed all the sleep she could get that night.
While Brad was fiddling around with the back of the machine, her phone chimed.She pulled it from her pocket to find it was a message from Sadie.
Sadie:Thank you for tonight.I don’t think Reed suspects anything about the party.
Abby:You’re welcome.But you owe me.
Sadie:Is pretending to be Brad’s girlfriend such a hardship?
Abby:Yes!
Sadie:Then why are you still with him?
