“What are you doing here?” I ask, turning my gaze back to Valerie.
“My sister,” Valerie nods at Crystal, “is in town for a while. We’re getting breakfast and then going shopping.”
I nod and fill up their mugs even though no one said yes to the coffee.
“Good. That’s good.” God, I want to slap myself for how awkward I’m being. I just never expected to see her again.
“Wait,” Crystal says, her eyes looking from Valerie to me, then back to Valerie. “Is thistheElla?”
My eyes widen. Did Valerie tell her sister about us? Was it good? Am I about to get yelled at by her super famous sister at my job?
Valerie’s cheeks redden and she says, “Yes. Ella, meet my sister Crystal. Crystal, meet Ella.”
“You weren’t kidding, Val.” Crystal takes her time looking me over. What the hell does that mean?
“Umm, do you want some time to look over the menu?” I ask.
Crystal tilts her head. “Actually, what I’d like is to know why you ignored my sister’s calls and texts after your night together.”
“Crystal,” Valerie warns. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not, Val.” Crystal crosses her arms over her chest and stares at me.
Shit. “Alright.” I pull out a chair and sit down. It’s not busy and Kira can handle anything the other customers need. I focus on Valerie and not the scary pop princess to my right. “I really like you. I had so much fun with you. But this is my life.” I gesture to the restaurant. “I left a controlling, narcissistic man in Toronto. On paper, our life together was perfect. But it wasn’t. None of what we had together was what I wanted. It took me years to leave. Years to believe in myself, that I deserved more. It took moving across the country and starting over from scratch to begin to like myself again. I’m learning who I am, but I’m a work in progress. The way I dress, how I do my makeup, how I eat, all of that’s the me I’m supposed to be, but it’s still new and scary. I don’t really know who I am yet and I don’t know what I could offer you.”
Valerie takes my hand in hers. “For the record, I think you are beautiful and brave. Your ex is an asshole. No one should be made to feel like they can’t shine and be themselves. And Ella? You’re brilliant.”
I have nothing to say to that, so I follow a crack in the tabletop with my finger and try to be cool in front of the woman who made me feel like the best version of myself and her incredibly famous, like literally her song is playing on the radio right now, sister.
“Would it be okay if I came back another time to eat?” Valerie asks me shyly.
“I’d like that.” I stand on shaky legs, giving them privacy to enjoy their coffees.
CHAPTER 06
Valerie and her sister come in every morning after that for a week. Each time, we talk more and more, learning about each other. I sit with them when it’s slow. Crystal tells me stories about Valerie when they were young, and Valerie tells me stories about them on the road, travelling all over the world for Crystal’s tours.
I look forward to seeing Valerie every morning when I get up for work, holding my breath until she and her sister walk in. Sometimes people recognize Crystal, but mostly they’re left to eat in peace.
On the eighth morning, Valerie slides an envelope across the table to me.
“What’s this?” I pick up the envelope, noting it’s heavier than I thought it would be.
“Just a little gift. It’s long overdue,” Valerie replies, shrugging her shoulders, but there’s a tightness to them like she’s nervous.
I open the envelope and keys spill out onto the table.
“Valerie,” I breathe. “What is this?”
“You need a new car. Paul found a great deal on something much more reliable than your old one.”
I turn my gaze from the keys to her face and take in the eagerness in her eyes. “You can’t give me a car.”
“I didn’t. Paul did,” she says smugly.
“I don’t even know Paul! That’s a worse argument,” I reply. My mouth opens and closes a few times, unable to come up with anything to say. This is insane.
“Okay, fine. It’s from me. But you need a new car and I have the ability to give you one.” Valerie’s smile is soft and sweet and I want to kiss her so badly, but geez this is too much.
