“Just moved in. I’m from around Knoxville. This is all new to me.” She eyed the seating arrangement before her gaze slid to the counter. “How about I get a drink and let you two work?”
“What are you both in the mood for?” Riley asked. “I’ll get it for you. On the house.”
“Oh, it doesn’t have to be,” Piper said. “I’m just a plus-one.”
“And I’ll be fine.”
Riley gave us both a flat look. “First of all, Theo, you came all the way out here. And second, I always treat people I know.”
“You just met me,” Piper said.
“But it feels like I know you. So, it’s free. And you can’t fight me because I’m part owner of this place.”
“First Theo and now you.” Piper crossed her arms. “Is there something about my face that says I can’t pay for my coffee?”
“Maybe people just like to be nice to you,” Riley said. “And consider it a welcome to Nashville. Now, seriously, tell me your order, or I’ll hunt it down.”
Piper and I glanced at each other, and I swore she was asking if we should give in.
I made the decision for us both. “Just black coffee. For both of us.”
“Are you getting the cheapest thing on the menu because you think you should, or because you really like black coffee?” Riley asked, her eyes narrowed.
“We really like it,” Piper said. “Unfortunately, we’re boring.”
“Say no more. Two coffees coming right up.”
Riley only took a moment to grab two cups before Piper excused herself to find her own table. I made sure she got seated before turning back to Riley.
“So, is that new?” Riley asked.
“Yeah. Kind of. Why do you ask?”
“You just seem different than when I met you. Like you’re a little happier. It reminds me of when I first got with my husband.”
There would be no marriage between Piper and me, but for the first time, the idea of it never happening hit me hard.
But I couldn’t think about that right now, so I sat at a table in the back and took a sip of coffee. I liked her blend. It was fruity and lighter than mine, but still delicious, and I was happy to offer it alongside my own.
“You seem busy,” I said. “Hopefully things are goingwell.”
“They are, but I’ve really been inspired by what you’re doing. I hear The Reserved Bean is already very profitable.”
I immediately tensed. It would do me no good to try to figure out what Riley wanted to talk to me about, but I did anyway. Ideas ranged from her wanting to up how much I paid for my franchise all the way to her wanting to change everything I did.
I’d made money, but not enough to buy myself out of the shop if it came down to it.
“Yeah, it is,” I said slowly. “And I’ve followed everything that you told me.”
There hadn’t been much. Riley seemed oddly open to letting me do whatever I wanted. Still, I always tried to prepare for when the rug would be pulled out from under me.
“You’re doing great, Theo. I have nothing to complain about. What I wanted to talk to you about was something different.” Riley folded her hands and sat up straighter. “Would you be open to letting me buy your blend from you?”
I blinked. Out of all the things I thought she could be talking to me about, it wasn’t this.
“Why would you wanna do that?”
“I’ve heard really good things. Actually, incredible things. My husband stopped in Strawberry Springs to meet up with an online friend. He said it was amazing.”
