"You sure? Because I can go."
"Luke." Callie crosses to his table. Sits across from him. "Stop being weird. Have your breakfast. Hang out if you want."
He relaxes slightly. "Okay. Thanks."
She gets up and returns to the kitchen. I go back to wiping counters. Luke eats his donuts and drinks his coffee. The shop is quiet. Peaceful.
"Can I say something?" Luke asks after a few minutes.
I look up. "Yeah."
"You're good for her. I can see it, in the way she is when you're around. She’s more relaxed. Happy."
"She makes me happy too."
"Good. That's all I want. For both of you." He takes a drink of coffee. "I know I've been weird about this. About you two. But I'm done with that. You have my blessing. Officially. No more doubts."
"Thanks, man. That means a lot."
"Just take care of her. That's all I ask."
"I will. I promise."
He nods. Finishes his coffee. Gets up to leave. Stops at the door.
"You working the shop now? Regularly?"
"Just helping out when I can."
"She could use a business partner. Someone to handle the front while she focuses on the baking."
"I have my own job."
"Remote job. That you do from your laptop, you could do from here just as easily."
I hadn't thought about it. But Luke's right. I could work from the shop. Help Callie. Be present in a way I couldn't before.
"I'll think about it," I tell him.
"You do that." He grins. "See you around, partner."
He leaves. The door swings shut behind him.
Callie comes out of the kitchen. "What was that about?"
"Luke being Luke. Suggesting I work here regularly."
"He did?"
"Yeah, he said you could use help with the front while you focus on baking."
She's quiet for a moment. "And what do you think?"
"I think he might be right."
"Ethan, you have your own career. You can't just give that up to work in a donut shop."
"I'm not giving anything up. I'm adding. My job is remote. I can do it anywhere. Why not here?"
