Piper didn’t say anything else as I sent the message. She focused on joining. When she got in, she blinked. “No membership questions?”
“No what?”
“Usually when you join a group, they have questions to make sure you’re real.”
“It’s not like that here,” I replied. “The group isn’t searchable. You have to have a direct link to it. That’s enough.”
“What about scammers?”
“What scammer wants to join a tiny Facebook group?”
She considered it. “Wow. This is different than I’m used to.”
She leaned forward as she scrolled, and I tried not to stare. She still kept her distance from me, but this was the closest we’d been. I wouldn’t take it any further, but I enjoyed it.
“Oh, I see what you mean about Kerry. Does she always talk this much?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“What do you post?” she asked. “I’m looking you up.”
“Wait, don’t?—”
She’d already done it. “Oh, wow. Did someone really have you handle a plumbing backup?”
I shuddered just thinking back to that day. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“Okay, then what about when Jackie meant to put a review of the shop up and made a post instead?”
“That’sstillthere?” I asked. “What the hell are the admins doing?”
“It’s cute,” she replied. “And this helps me know people better. Thanks for sending it to me.”
There was something about the way she said thank you. It was soft, like she rarely said it.
“You’re welcome. Just don’t dig too far. You might regret it.”
“Should I introduce myself?” she asked. “Would people appreciate that?”
“Definitely. Just be prepared for the comments. And maybe don’t mention you come here.”
“Why? You don’t want people to know I like the coffee?”
“No. You’ll get hounded.”
Her honey-brown eyes went wide. “Is Kerry that determined?”
“Very much so.”
“Note taken.” She sighed. “Maybe I’ll work myself up to it then.”
“Take your time.”
“I’ll make sure no one knows I hang out here all the time. Or that you take forever to close so you don’t kick me out.”
Jesus. For a woman so shy, she really knew how to embarrass the hell out of me. “I don’t do that.”
“Whatever you say. Thanks again, Theo. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
