I know the fight about who I’ll marry isn’t over, but when Avery is an option, Victoria doesn’t stand a chance.
30
AVERY
I’m still trying to figure out what happened to Max after his phone call, and it’s been bothering me since last night. I don’t know why it matters so much, but my brain keeps going through the motions of what I need to do today while also trying to pinpoint what the changing factor in his behavior was.
He still smiled and enjoyed the night while we all joked and told stories in a larger group, but it was like he had withdrawn himself somewhat.
I guess the bigger question is how in the world I know this already about him. I’m not sure what it is, but I feel like I can see his moods change, even the slightest, these days. That means I’ve been paying too much attention to him.
What if his phone call was because he needs to head back to New York soon?
My stomach twists at the thought, and I realize I’m in a whole lot deeper than I thought.
I do my best to push Max Luca out of my mind and focus on the short line of customers in front of me. We have our typical neighbors from next door, as well as several newbies from thegathering last night. I’m ashamed of how many people didn’t know I’d opened a coffee shop. It’s a popular beverage, but it still needs marketing. I’m not completely convinced social media is the route we need to go right now, but Sarah gets so excited about it every time I ask her. I’ll have to create a master marketing plan after this weekend.
We get through the few hours that we planned to be open, and then it’s almost lunch. One of the activities for this test-run weekend is to try out a new restaurant down the road. It makes me think of Max when he asked me to have dinner with him. Was it supposed to be there?
Sarah and I get things cleaned up before we walk down to Marco’s, a new Italian place. Lila and Ashley are already there talking to Aiden and a few other people they met last night.
When I reach the group, I look at Aiden and say, “Where’s Max?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him. I figured he’d be at the coffee shop for as much as he visits your establishment.” His pointed gaze causes my cheeks to flare.
“I haven’t seen him today.”
The line is long for this restaurant, and I’m wondering if it’s worth it to wait. Maybe this is something to visit later in the afternoon, when the crowd has died down some. But the open window is only until four p.m., and I’m already hungry now at noon.
“I don’t believe I’ve met your friend Avery,” Aiden says.
I turn to see Sarah at my side and can’t believe I forgot to introduce them. “This is Sarah. She is a master of balloon arches and of all things design.”
Sarah grins at me and says, “Thank you, boss.”
Aiden gives her a small smile and turns to look back at the line. “Do we know what kind of food they’ll be serving here?”
Lila and Ashley look at each other as if one of them has the answer. The two are practically connected at the hip these days.I can’t complain, though, because I wanted someone steady for Lila to hang out with. And the fact that they want to stay with us means a lot. When Lila was good friends with Kylie, I never saw them.
Sarah leans forward, squinting at the building. “Italian.”
“That would be nice,” Aiden says. “A little more variety in this town would make it perfection personified.”
The four of us laugh, and he gives us a small smile before looking behind us. “Look, there’s Max now.”
Why did my stomach have to do that lame fluttering thing at the mention of Max?
I wait a second, hoping to manage my expression a bit, so I don’t look too anxious to see him again. I’m not sure whether his phone conversation last night was good or bad because of how it tempered his mood, but I don’t want to go jumping to any conclusions, and I need to keep my heart from galloping away with me.
“Where have you been?” Aiden asks, slapping Max on the back as he comes to stand next to us.
“I was actually helping the movers with the furniture.”
I turn to look at him in surprise. “What furniture?”
Max gives me a little smile. “The furniture for the flat I’m staying in.”
I grin at him. “So, no more air mattress?”
