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“I’m guessing you coming back has something to do with the ex-boyfriend situation you mentioned yesterday?”
I sighed. “Yeah. A failed business and cheating boyfriend decided for me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “What kind of business?”
“A coffee shop.”
“That’s amazing. What was it called?”
“Tillie’s Brews.”
“What was it like?”
I looked at him to see if he was messing with me or trying to get a rise out of me, but there was nothing of the sort in his eyes. Unlike everyone else who just followed the story of my failed coffee shop with piteous, I-told-you-so eyes and silence, Leo seemed genuinely curious. I plodded on carefully.
“It was magical,” I admitted after thinking for a long moment. “I decorated it in a nautical theme, you know, like an escape in the middle of the city. It was a peaceful blue color inside, and we played tropical music. It was beach chic, not tacky at all, though. I swear. The counter looked like an old, antiquated ship. It was my favorite place. I worked so hard at it.”
“What happened?”
Disappointment settled into my chest. I tried to push it aside like I usually did, but it wouldn’t budge. “I don’t know, really. Things started off slow, of course. But then, we were doing well. I had a decent-sized staff, and it seemed like we were the top spot in the city. We were even featured in a magazine. But after eight great years, business started to dry up. Maybe it was the economy, or maybe it was just that other new, exciting coffee spots popped up. The last few years were bad, but I didn’t want to give up, even when Brad thought it was time. I’m too stubborn to quit, I guess. But then it got to a point where we couldn’t sustain it anymore.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve seen it. I can tell it was special because you light up when you talk about it.”
I smiled at him. I did light up thinking about it. It made me sad all over again that it was gone.
“And what about Brad?” he asked.
“That’s a story for another day. Let’s just say he turned out to be quite a bad investment as well.” My heart cracked a little at the thought, taking me back to those days of losing the business and the relationship I thought was my forever. It was a horrible time in my life, one that was still quite fresh.
“Well, I’m sorry to hear all that. But I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad we both are, actually.” He reached into the cooler he’d wheeled along and pulled out two waters. He handed me one, holding up his in a mock toast. “To a summer of fresh starts, peace, and simplicity.”
“To all of the above,” I said, smiling as we clinked water bottles and chugged.
“Well, I’ve told you my story. What about yours?” I asked.
He shrugged, looking out into the distance. “What’s there to tell? Popstar running from fame. People all around but feeling all alone. Tale as old as time.”
“I think there’s more to it,” I said. “I sense there’s more to you.”
He looked at me, and it seemed like he was going to elaborate. But I felt the wall go up. I tried not to take it personally. We knew each other for what, a couple of days? And guys like him had to be careful. I could only imagine how many so-called friends sold him out to the tabloids.
“It’s complicated. But I’m glad to be somewhere it’s not,” he finally said.
I nodded. “I’m glad to be part of your first American beach day as an adult,” I said.
“And my first beach trip with a girl with a trash bag on her leg,” he teased, smiling. His smile was huge and electric. I nudged him but laughed despite it all.
We sat for a while then, talking about Ocean City, about beach memories, and about nothing significant. But that was the beauty of it. For the first time in a while, no one was asking me the heavy life questions. No one was pestering him about money and career moves and signing autographs. We were invisible amongst the beachgoing crowd, invisible except to each other.
After a long while when the sun got to be too much and we both were getting hungry for more than the chips we packed, Leo helped collect all the things. I slowly got to my feet with his help and crutched through the sand, my leg sweating profusely in the sauna of a garbage bag. It was not the best idea, but at that moment, I didn’t care. We hitched the bus back to my condo, where Leo helped me to the door.
“This was great,” he said. “Thank you. Text me when you’re free and feel up to more exploring. I don’t want you overdoing it with your leg.” He’d put his number in my phone on the bus on the way to the beach.
“Today wasn’t overdoing it. It was just what I needed,” I admitted.
He nodded. “Me too.”
We stood for a moment in front of the door. Hands tucked in his pockets, he studied me so intensely, my stomach dropped. I thought he might lean in. I thought Leo Turner might kiss me right there in front of the condo. And I thought I just might kiss him back.
