Technically, I know how to make our drinks. I refuse to be a clueless manager. But what I make versus something Rose makes is like the difference between having a glass of Coke at home and a glass of Coke in a restaurant. You can’t put your finger on it, but it’s not the same.
She chats with the customers as she moves around the station, her skirt swooshing against my jeans as she passes. The dress code was the first thing to go when I took over the coffee shop. That and the hours. Five a.m. was an ungodly time to open.
But I’ve never liked being told what to wear and figured my coworkers should have the same courtesy. Rose mostly sticks to dresses and skirts, except on Mondays and Saturdays, when we get our heaviest traffic. Then she wears jeans, or maybe those slim pants that stop a few inches above the ankle.
Yeah. I sound like a creep who keeps track of what she wears in a notebook. Time for me to go.
“I’m heading in the back,” I mutter. The smile she sends my way hits me like a riptide. Except instead of dragging me out to sea, I’m ready to crash into her.
I rake my fingers through my hair as I stalk away, tugging the ends to try to straighten out my thoughts. I keep expecting this…whatever it is…she does to me to fade away. I’ll walk into work one day and feel normal about her again. Instead, it only seems to be getting worse.
The bell on the door chimes, and a woman walks in. Speaking of worse.
I walk faster, but Lucy’s already spotted me.
“Reed!” Her shout echoes so loud the coffee beans rattle.
I’m so close. Three more steps and I can lock myself in the office to escape my sister’s latest scheme. Unlike my unexpected soft spot for Rose, I’m not inclined to indulge in Lucy’s projects. Especially not when they involve me.
But I sigh and go back to where she waits for me at the counter. “You’d think a high school teacher would know better than to yell at people indoors.”
“Good afternoon to you, too.”
I stare her down, but just like Rose, Lucy doesn’t flinch. She knows me too well to take any of my silent threats seriously.
“So?” she prompts. “You obviously saw my texts. Who’s your pick?”
“I’m not doing this.”
She rolls her eyes and moves along the counter until she’s standing in front of the register. “Hi, Rose. Can I get a…ooh, I’ll take an iced strawberry matcha.”
Rose starts making Lucy’s drink, moving smoothly around the station. Lucy watches her for a few seconds, but then her eyes light up. “Hey. Let’s get your opinion. Who should Reed ask out?”
My stomach turns to steel, but she goes on yapping. At least the other customers are having their own conversations at tables by the windows and probably aren’t paying attention to this, but Rose is the last person I want Lucy to loop into her flight of fancy.
“I’m trying to pair him off with one of my coworkers, but he won’t choose.” She leans her elbows on the counter to show Rose something on her phone. Probably the pictures she texted me days ago. “Ally. She teaches chemistry. Into cosplay and gaming. Or Penny. She’s the new P.E. teacher and softball coach. She’s into hiking and memoirs.”
Rose pauses what she’s doing to inspect the photos. “Both are super cute.”
“I know, right? But he hasn’t made a decision. He won’t eventell me if he prefers blondes or brunettes.” Lucy tucks her phone away. “I guess I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands.”
She steeples her fingers and taps them together like a cartoon villain. Lucy might look like a petite little cherub, but she can be pure evil sometimes.
I shift closer to Rose, my arms crossed as I stare at my sister. “One of our other brothers would be a better choice for this.”
I might feel bad about siccing her on them if I thought there was any hope she’d change course. For reasons of her own, she’s decided I’m her summer project.
Lucy makes a face. “Luke isn’t looking?—”
“I’m not looking, either.”
Feels odd to say standing this close to the woman I regularlylookat, but it’s technically true. I wrecked the last relationship I had, and I’m not idealistic enough to think I’ve changed much since then.
She ignores me, naturally. “Graham works at the high school, obviously, so that’s out. You know how complicated dating coworkers would be.”
I don’t let my gaze fall on Rose, but I eat her up in my peripheral vision. Yeah. I can guess how complicated that would be.
“Nathan would jump at the set up.” Literally and figuratively.
