But she is staring at Evil Lord of the Mansion who is staring at me, while DJ stares at her, because she isn’t acknowledging my apology.
“Deej, please go in the back and get two fresh blueberry muffins.Right now.Then we’ll finish the big order.”
He goes.
The Dark Lord storms off, muttering something to the bigger man about small towns on their way out.
I hand Tourist Woman her lattes, DJ shoves her bag of muffins into my back and Steven appears behind the counter, fresh faced and happy as ever.
He chirps, “Alright, here I am! How can I help?”
_____
MONTHS LATER
Aiden
“But you’re not honestly going to live in that dreadful town,” I respond to Ben.
“‘Course I am. Part time, at least. That’s where Janie is,” he says. “And don’t call it dreadful.”
I huff, “And what would you call it then?”
He pauses to think and I wait, watching the clouds pass by as the jet rockets me across the continental US for the fourth time this week.
“Just in need of some TLC,” he says, with a smile, I’m sure.
Idiot is always smiling lately.
“In need of demolition,” I snipe back.
He laughs, annoyingly happy, and says, “You would say that. You’d tear down the whole place and put in an obscenely large ski resort.”
“And a spa,” I deadpan. He laughs again. Moron.
But it’s not actually the worst idea.
“Anyway, just wanted to tell you the good news. We’re staying married.”
I nod, then realize he can’t see me. So I murmur back, “Congratulations.”
“You’ll find someone and become a lovesick pup too, mate,” he says, overconfident. “Just wait.”
“We both know I’m more of a lone wolf.”
He laughs again, droning on about wolves being dogs too until finally releasing me from the conversation. I sigh with relief as I tuck my phone away.
Love, romance, feelings. Ben’s genuine joy and his hope for me. It all makes me twitchy.
Like that awful town, Juniper Falls. Benedict’s new home base, apparently. I pull up some data on my laptop. Even the photos make me feel the need to loosen my collar. Turn up the AC overhead.
Everywhere you turn is a damn gingerbread man or decorated Christmas tree. Who enjoys that much kitsch? That much cheese? It’s not real, the charm.
Crazy Baker Lady proved that point.
I had been so eager to see the place withthatcoffee. Ben had brought me a few different varieties from the bakery while I was stuck in town during an ice storm and they were divine. Smooth and sweet and bitter in equal measures. I’m a connoisseur, yet I cannot find a brew that compares at home in my machine or in other coffee shops.Internationally.
But the baker behind the coffee…
