"I'm not kidding this time."
I turned around slowly, scoffing when there was still nobody."Damn it!"
"Fooled you twice, you fool!"Mila cackled and held up her phone to snap a shot of my face."That's one for the reel."
Shame on me.Shame on me.
Amused, I just let her have her fun.She was young and I liked that she was comfortable teasing me despite the age difference.If it wasn't for both of us working here at the Lazy Cat, I doubted that I'd ever have gotten this close with Mila but it was nice to feel connected to family.Especially with how estranged I was from my parents.
And it was nice to have someone who kept me up to date with all the trendy viral stuff.
The bell above the door went and I turned around, realising that I should've known Mila was kidding about Faye coming in before because there hadn't been a chime.This time, itwasFaye and she was wearing a cute scarf with tassels and an even cuter smile.
"Hello, Greendales!"she said, her gaze landing on me and staying firmly fixed."Hi."It came out softer and was clearly just meant for me.
Butterflies roared to life in my stomach with so much force, it felt like they might carry me away.All that from a simplehi.
"Hey," I returned, automatically moving towards the front of the counter.I'd been thinking about seeing her all day but now that she was in front of me, I didn't actually know what to say."Hi."
"You said that already," Faye teased.
Behind me, I could hear Mila snicker.I had no doubt that she'd have lots and lots of questions later but for now, I ignored my cousin and focused on the woman I'd been thinking about all day.
"What can I get you?Double espresso?"I guessed, tapping the tablet to wake it up.
"Yes, please.Can I also have a black coffee for my pawpaw and a coffee with lots of milk and sugar for Gugu.And they want cakes," she said, pointing at the glass display with our cake selection.
I punched her order in."What kind of cakes?"
"Chocolate cake for me and Gugu," Faye said, pointing at the slice she wanted."And Pawpaw asked for something fruity."
"We've got Victoria sponge with strawberry jam or this blackberry-honey cake," I said, thinking about what Faye's grandmother might like best."I'd recommend the blackberry-honey.I think blackberries are in season and your grandmother likes them, doesn't she?She'd take us blackberry picking when we were younger."
A smile appeared on Faye's face.Or rather, her smile shifted into a nostalgic one."She did and do you know why?"
"To keep us busy?"I asked.
"No.She had a little side hustle making and selling blackberry wine.She used us.It was child labour!Unpaid child labour!"Faye whisper-shouted, the affection in her voice showing that she wasn't actually angry.If anything, she looked amused.
I chuckled, charmed by her expression."Why am I not surprised?And is it any different than when my gran had us running around the coffee house delivering drinks?"
"More unpaid child labour," Faye said with a nod."Our grandmothers are hustlers."
"They sure are," I said while cutting generous slices of cake and putting them in takeaway boxes."Does your pawpaw still make blackberry wine?"
"No, she quit that a while ago.Too much work, apparently."Faye leaned on the counter, her gaze trained on me."We have a lot of history, don't we?"
"We sure do," I confirmed, curious where she was going with that statement.
She hummed and a mysterious glint filled her eyes but she didn't elaborate.Instead, she tapped her card against the payment machine while Mila brought the hot drinks to the counter for us.
It really was nice to have my cousin working here.
"Thanks for the drinks and the cake," Faye said, still leaning."I've got to go back to work but we're still on for our date tomorrow?"
I nodded right away, not one to play games.Not when it came to this, and not with Faye."Yes, I'm looking forward to it.Are you really not going to tell me anything about the date?"
"No."She paused for a moment."Except that you should wear sensible shoes and warm clothes."
