Page 27 of Let Me Protect You

“I-I,” I pause before I make a bigger fool of myself. “I wasn’t checking you out then or now. Do you need someone to stroke your ego or something?”

He throws his head back and laughs. My knees almost buckle as it rumbles out of his chest. Get your act together. It’s only a laugh.

“Go get the plates before the eggs get cold.”

I still don’t move from my spot. “I think you forgot that I hate being bossed around.”

He turns his head to face me again, and something lights up his dark eyes. Is it … excitement? No, that doesn’t seem like an appropriate reaction to me standing my ground.

“I’ll accept the challenge then.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I ask, “What challenge?”

“Well, you hate being told what to do, and I am lucky enough to have the privilege of bossing you around as your bodyguard, so one way or another, you’ll finally do as I say without fighting.”

I scoff. “Maybe in your dreams.” Then I walk over to the cabinet to grab the plates. “And I’m not listening to you. I don’t want the food to go to waste when my stomach is about to eat itself, so this is out of pure survival.”

He nods as if he accepts my answer and then opens his annoying mouth to say, “Sure, you can keep telling yourself that. Now let’s eat because we’re already going to be late.”

***

Elias is right. We are about thirty minutes late. Walking into Cutesy’s is like déjà vu. The same mismatched tables and chairs are scattered around the small cafe. A huge chalkboard with the menu scrawled in swooping letters is still on the wall behind the register. Barbara, my old co-worker, who has to be in her mid-sixties by now, still works busily behind the counter. It’s almost as if this one business was stuck in time.

How many afternoons did I work here in my junior and senior year of high school? Is the vibe different now that there’s a new owner?

A lady who appears to be middle-aged grabs her drink at the pickup and turns toward me, heading to the exit. I step to the side, giving her space to leave.

“Thanks for coming in,” Elias says with a blinding smile.

“Of course. I’ll be back tomorrow, as you know.”

Even before I moved away, I’ve never seen that woman in my life, but apparently, she’s a regular here.

“Oh, Elias, sweetheart, you’re here,” Barb says from behind the counter. She looks up from the drink she’s working on, pauses, and blinks at me. “Is that you, Harmony?”

“Hello, Barb.”

She turns her back to me, and my body immediately feels heavy. I won’t blame her if she’s upset that I left town early, without a word. She celebrated with me when I was accepted into NYU, and then I was just gone.

Placing a drink on the pickup counter, Barb calls out the customer’s name. She takes off the apron that Elias and I bought her the last Christmas I was here. On it reads, “You Mocha Me Very Happy.” She comes around the bar and grabs my hands, staring deep into my eyes before drawing me in for an embrace. Tears prick at my eyes, and I squeeze her. When she pulls back, she places a warm hand on my face. Her worry lines are more prominent than before I left.

“I’m so happy you’re back, but that’s my selfishness talking.”

Hearing her say that makes me feel lighter than I have in a while. But what do I say in response? It’s not exactly common conversation to announce that someone attacked me, and I’m hiding out. “Sorry but don’t get too used to it. I’ll be going back to the city after everything is settled here.”

“I’ll enjoy the time I have with you then.”

Before I can respond, more people come inside, and she hurries back behind the bar. Elias signals for me to follow him. We weave around the tables as a line starts to build. I can only hope the job comes back to me quickly or else Barb won’t get much help.

To-go cup boxes rest right inside the break room as if they need the reminder to put them away. The far wall is lined with lockers. I run my fingers across the chipped, navy-blue paint and stop at my old locker. Opening it, a large jacket is already stuffed inside.

Damn. Only a couple of people worked here and they had to take the one I wanted.

Moving on, I grab the locker beside it and stuff all my belongings into it. I stride over to the sink to wash my hands. Being back here for the first time, so many memories sweep over me. Elias and I used to sneak the throwaway blueberry muffins back here, and we’d eat like half a dozen of them. By the time we were done, my belly felt five inches bigger.

And the first time we kissed was in this very room. His hesitant lips pressed against mine. My heart pounded so fast I was afraid I’d have a heart attack right then.

“Are you done?” Elias’s deep voice startles me.