Page 80 of Where Roads Lead

I’d never seen Will right when he woke up. He looked sort of cute. A lot grumpier than usual (which was saying something), but somehow less fearsome with tousled hair and bleary eyes.

“Okay, okay,” I said, gathering my notebook, pens, and laptop spread out across the table. “Let’s not panic.”

“I’m not panicking,” he said. “I own the place.”

“Yes, but this looks bad.”

“Bad, how?”

“We spent the night together!”

“How would anyone know that?”

“Why are you not bothered by this?” I asked, incredulous. “You’re uptight about everything.”

“Am not.” He scoffed.

“Are too.”

“I mean, I don’t love the fact that I’m waking up in my place of employment, but I don’t see anything I can do about it now.”

“How very realistic of you,” I muttered, running a frantic hand through my hair.

It was no use, and I knew it. One look at me and you could tell I’d just rolled out of bed—or, a sturdy café chair, but semantics.

“I have to go—” I started before I heard bells jingle as the door pushed open.

No way would there be customers here this early.

Will and I turned to see who was showing up at such an ungodly hour, when the sight of Ava made me freeze.

“What are you doing here?” She pinned me with her glare. Then, looking between Will and me with piercingly analytical eyes, came to her own conclusion.

Wrong as it might be, I didn’t think explaining myself would make the situation any better.

In fact, any situation I got myself into regarding the two other people in the room only paved the way toward chaos.

Which meant it was better if I left. As soon as possible.

“I gotta go,” I said, throwing my satchel over my shoulder with less care than its contents required. “Thanks for the coffee, Will.”

And before anyone could utter another word, I was long gone.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Will

Icould already feel the headache coming on before Ava even opened her mouth.

Contrary to the past few days, Ava wasn’t perpetually pissed off, but lately every time I saw her it was with either a scowl on her face or a look of heartbreak.

Neither were particularly fun to deal with.

“Now, I understand why I got dropped off first last night.” Ava laughed unsettlingly, choosing the former for this morning. “You didn’t want me to get in the way of date night!”

“Oh, please.” I turned around, not having time to entertain her drama this morning.

We were supposed to open soon, and I already had a half hour later start than usual.