“Don’t worry.” Chat’s expression grew more focused. “I’m here for you. Really. I can keep a secret.”
Danika stared at him.
“Don’t worry,” Chat repeated. He scooted closer to the edge of his chair, and Danika couldn’t help but find comfort in his concern. Hedidcare about her; his sympathy felt genuine—their connection real. It made her feel worthy and loved.
Danika didn’t know what to say next, but before she could speak, Chat stood. For a second, she was terrified he was turning to leave, but as he rose and opened his arms, she understood, clarity washing over her like sunlight. She set down her glass. Stood to meet him. Embraced him. She thought she might cry as she rested her cheek against his chest. And as she clung to him, turning her face inward,clenching her arms around his strong, curved back, she became fully lost in the memory of touch—fully transported in time. She could almost smell her old high school house, that beat-up pickup truck, the T-shirts she’d steal to sleep in. As another beat passed, she felt so disconnected from her body that, without hesitating, she suddenly leaned up and pressed her lips to the space below his jawline, the tip of her tongue meeting the salt of his skin.
It took a few seconds before he spoke. But more than her name, what finally snapped Danika back to reality was the feeling of his throat tensing under her mouth. She jumped back.
“Oh my god, Chat, I’m so sorry.” She pressed her hand to her forehead, turning toward the windows. “I must be losing my mind. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Chat stepped forward until they were inches apart again. “Seriously. This is a tough day. Don’t think twice about it.” His expression was so assured and steady that, to Danika’s surprise, she let her shoulders relax.
“I promise I’m not coming on to you.” Her eyes filled as she tried to laugh.
Quickly, Chat pulled her into another hug—but this time, her arms were at her sides, so as he wrapped his arms around her body, it was as if she were in a straitjacket, forced to calm down. It worked. He rocked them side to side, shifting their weight from one foot to the other.
“I know, I know,” he said over the top of her head. She held her breath until he pulled away. Still, he kept his hands on her shoulders as he leaned down to look straight at her. “It’s really okay.” He shook her shoulders once, teasing, dissolving any last awkwardness.
Danika rubbed her nose.
“Though, you know, anyone would be flattered if youwerecoming on to them.” Chat dropped his hands, smiling. “You know you’re beautiful. That anyone would be an idiot... any guy would be an idiot... to let you go. Your ex”—he studied her—“it’s his loss. I mean it. You’re amazing.”
Danika’s breath shuddered as she suppressed her emotions.
“And look”—he glanced to his watch—“there’s only six hours left in the day. It will be over soon. Why don’t you go finishFrozenwith the boys? You’ll never guess what happens.”
Danika laughed for real. They’d all seenFrozentoo many times to count.
“Okay. I hope it’s a happy ending.”
Chat was the one laughing now. “Me too.”
15
“This half is cheese, and this half is meat,” Teuta said.
Augie sat at a communal table by Hyla’s front window. It was a few minutes before open, and she’d brought her laptop to job search while her mom helped Teuta. Zami was visiting his brother in Iowa, and Augie’s mom liked to support Teuta whenever she could. Augie usually did, too, but after their conversations about Augie’s job search on the drive to the Crawleys’ cabin, Teuta insisted she just come hang out and work on her applications.
Augie was glad that now that she was messaging Chat, she had a better idea of his schedule; she knew he was too busy to be at Hyla today. She wasn’t ready to see him yet, let alone around her mom.
She was enjoying talking to him on LinkedIn, though. It didn’t feel as intimate or all-encompassing as texting—and the reward of conversation helped her get things done throughout the day. She’d tell herself she could not check her inbox until she completed X or Y or Z. This additionally helped space out her messages to him. She liked to keep him waiting, to imagine him checking his phone again and again, growing more eager to hear from her. In a twisted way, each message felt like a dig against Mrs. Crawley.
Messaging Chat directly also made Augie feel like she was taking control of the situation. Especially after deciding not to bug Leah about him anymore. Augie had felt so awful about missing Lyle’s birthday dinner. While she had apologized profusely, and Leah had said it wasn’t a big deal, that she didn’t expect her to remember, Augie still felt distressed. She promised to make it up to her—though Leah reminded her she’d be busy up until the Hotel Harrison’s restaurant opening. But at least they were back to texting as normal.
Even now, Augie took a photo of the fresh platter of mantia Teuta had set in front of her and sent it to Leah. Mantia was their favorite. Augie breathed in the fried, egg roll–like squares.
“Watch out, they’re hot,” her mom called from behind the counter as Augie lifted one to her mouth. Her mom wore a purple Hyla apron with the logo Augie had designed years ago.
Teuta adjusted a few chairs as she made her way toward the kitchen. The whole bakery was a mash-up of colorful furniture and art, sunflower paintings alongside framed cartoons, one lime green wall, one blue, an L-shaped bookshelf in the corner that served as a Little Free Library.
“You sure you’re good?” Augie said as her mom and Teuta shuffled in the kitchen.
“We’re good, girl. You keep up those applications.” Teuta returned carrying creamer and sugar for the coffee stand. “We’ve gotta get you out of that Club. I don’t know how you can stand it anymore. The Fourth of July about did me in.”
Augie pulled apart the mantia, watching the steam rise.
“At least we got to hang out with the cute manny, right?” Teuta lowered her voice so Augie’s mom couldn’t hear, knowing it would embarrass Augie.
