Maybe it really was time to swear off men for a while – they were just too complicated!
Willow continued to be swamped with customers, but with the help of Tommy, she was able to keep the line moving along nicely. The warm spring weather was clearly helping as everyone seemed eager to try an iced matcha.
Everyone except Lucas.
Willow glanced over at The Diner, the sinking feeling in her gut not going away.
The building looked empty. She wondered how he was doing. Was he OK?
‘It’s not been a good day for him.’
She looked up. Rachel was there, being served by Tommy. She was dressed brightly in purple today and herponytail was high and swishing back and forth as she spoke. She smiled stiffly in Willow’s direction; it wasn’t exactly friendly, but it wasn’t unfriendly either.
‘I think he was hoping for more customers,’ she continued. ‘You know what with it being—’
‘Damn! We’re out of ice!’ Tommy interrupted, looking at Willow in panic. ‘Everyone is ordering iced drinks today. What are we going to do?’
Rachel took her chocolate matcha and slurped it slowly. ‘Lucas has ice,’ she suggested sweetly. ‘Maybe he can help? I shouldn’t even be here you know, but I saw the line and couldn’t resist. Luc could really learn a thing or two from you.’
‘You think?’
Willow’s gaze flicked back over to The Diner. The unsettled feeling returned.
Would he help?
And could she really bring herself to ask?
In the end, she had no choice. Iced matchas didn’t work without the fundamental ingredient of ice and it was what everyone seemed to want in this warm sunshine. Willow didn’t want to risk annoying people so early on in her operations. She knew the ten-minute walk to the store would be risky too – she needed the ice now.
‘That was really nice, Willow,’ Rachel said, discarding her empty drink. ‘Maybe I was wrong about this business of yours.’
‘Thanks,’ Willow said, trying to keep the panic from her voice. ‘Are you going back to The Diner? Maybe you could ask Lucas for me—’
‘No can do.’ Rachel held up her hands. ‘Greg and I arebooked in for a game. Blood on the Clocktower. It’s very good; you should join us one day?’
The invitation didn’t sound that sincere. Rachel adjusted her ponytail.
‘Anyway, if it’s anything like the books, you have to go into The Diner yourself.’
‘I’m sorry?’
Rachel’s eyes glinted. ‘You go in and ask for ice. It’s an excuse to strike up conversation. The irony is the ice will produce heat and the two of you will be thrust together.’ She smirked. ‘It’s so cliché, but clichés work.’
‘There is no heat,’ Willow muttered, clambering out of the van. ‘There’s nothing …’
Just a sulky, grumpy immature man and a woman with a lack of frozen water.
That was all.
As expected, The Diner was quiet when Willow walked in. A sad song that she vaguely recognized was playing on the jukebox and added to the overall ambiance of the place. It wasn’t exactly upbeat. Willow quickly scanned the room. As usual, old Ernie was eating in the far corner, but this time he was chatting to Mia. Macguire was in here now with his laptop out, making some phone calls, and Adam was sitting by himself, scanning his phone.
Apart from that, it was pretty empty. There was no sign of Lucas. Janice was cleaning tables and singing softly along to the music. Willow approached her.
‘Hey!’
Janice looked up and as usual smiled warmly. ‘Hey!’ she replied. ‘Is my boy helping in the van? If not, I’ll come out there and have a word!’
‘He’s been great! Honestly. I think I’m going to ask him to help most Saturdays now if they all prove to be this busy.’
