“Look what Cam’s made.” I point to the screen, and she resumes her place to scroll through the website, which includes the menu, opening times, a map and an events page.
“Ooooh, I love it. It’s like we’re a real business.” Julian shimmies behind the counter and sets the urns going, something I forgot to do this morning.
“We are a real business, dickbrain.”
“Oh, you know what I mean. Cam’s website just makes us look professional.” He waves a hand in the air and busies himself. Julian never sits still, unlike Trudy, so maybe Cam won’t want to fire him, too.
“Thank you. I’m surprised you didn’t already have one, to be honest.” She raises an eyebrow at me as though I should have sorted this out long before now, but I never got my degree or finished the business studies course. The college ended my scholarship the minute I was injured and couldn’t play for the Lions anymore.
“What’s the events tab for?” I nod towards the screen.
“I’m going to plan some pop-up events to bring more people in.” She smiles, making me very nervous.
“What kind of events?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I’m not sure yet, but it’s British National Tea Day on the 21st.”
“Speaking of events. Tonight I’m taking you out.”
She spits her tea back into the cup. “Outout?”
The back of my neck itches. “Glory’s designed the set of a college production. I wanted to see it and support her, and you haven’t been out since you got here.”
There’s a buzz in my belly. Is this a date? Would she even go on a date with me? My head shakes. I’m trying to convince her to stay, not scare her off.
“I had a good spring break, by the way, in case anyone is interested,” Julian shouts from behind the counter, setting everything up nicely as he always does.
“How was it meeting Russell’s parents?”
“It was okay. Hey, he has a hot sister. If you’re interested, I could probably hook you up.”
Cam tenses next to me and frantically scrolls through the site as if she’s trying to look like she’s working. I don’t misread the jealous signals she’s throwing off and decide to play along.
“What’s her name?”
Julian pops his head back up from behind the chiller. “Brenda. She’s…” He makes a curve shape over his chest, telling me that Brenda has a nice rack on her, just how I like, though I can’t imagine anyone’s being nicer than Cam’s.
Cam rolls her eyes and Julian dives back behind the counter after he was caught doing a big tittie impression. “You should go on a date, Gray. Perhaps you can work off some of that anxiety I’ve been giving you.” She closes her laptop and tucks it under her arm before storming off upstairs.
“Was it something I said?” Julian asks.
“Don’t worry about it. She’s flicked hot and cold more times than the kettle, and she only arrived Monday.”
Julian shimmies over to where she sat and collects her empty mug, examining the remnants of tea. “She’s a tricky one to read.”
“You think? I don’t need tea leaves to tell me that.”
“There’s trouble brewing.”
“Again…Tell me something I don’t know.”
Julian swats me away with a hush, then stares back into the cup. “A new business venture.”
I huff and roll my eyes.
“No, it’s not business. A new love or a past love. But the path crosses with business.” He stares wide eyed at me. “She’s in love with you.”
“Ridiculous. She hates me.”
