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Carla talks to Julian for a few minutes before they walk over to me.
“Does he work here?” I ask Carla. “Or am I part of some stupid reality TV show?”
She laughs. “It’s not a joke. Julian’s our newest employee. And since you two know each other already, I thought you’d be more than happy to teach him.”
One eyebrow raised, I give her a confused look. “He’s going to be a barista?”
She nods and then taps Julian on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
After Carla leaves, I can’t stop laughing. “This is hilarious. Do you even know how to make a latte?”
“I can learn,” he says with a smile that reaches up to his bright green irises.
“You know, normal people don’t run out and get a manicure after a hard day of work, so you’ll have to get used to getting your hands dirty.”
He laughs. “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. And who says I get manicures?”
I take his hand and look at his perfect nail beds. “You play hockey, and I can't even tell.”
“Okay, fine,” he hisses. “I get it. I don’t know what it’s like to not be rich. But I’m going to learn.”
“Because you have to.”
He nods.
“You could have chosen differently,” I point out.
“I chose you, Briana. I’ll always choose you. No amount of money or privilege could ever make me walk away from you again. You don’t understand how much it means to me that you sent the check back.”
“So, what are you going to do for money? We won’t even be able to afford a studio apartment if both of us are working at Broad Street Beans.”
“I have hockey as an option.” He rolls his big shoulders. “I don’t know. Stop grilling me, woman. I don’t have it all figured out yet, but I will. Whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“Such a charmer.”
I flash him a goofy smile, and he hooks his arm around my back as he smacks a kiss on my forehead.
Sam clears her throat behind us. “Less kissing and more drink making,” she jokes.
“Carla hired him,” I say. “Can you believe her?”
Sam chuckles. “This will be interesting, that’s for sure. I couldn’t imagine Tucker working with us. He wouldn’t last an hour.”
“I tried to tell him,” I say. “But Julian swears he can hack it.”
“I wish you guys would have a little more faith in me,” Julian interjects. “You’re talking about me like I’m not even here.”
“Before I forget,” Sam says, “the shipment you worked out with Lou is in the back room. The box has yo
ur name on the top.”
I smile so wide it hurts. “Thanks.”
She winks. “Good luck.”
Julian touches my hip and breathes against my neck. “You’re gonna do great, babe. I know you can do it.”
After months of talking to the owner of Broad Street Beans about expanding and selling their coffee online, I finally got Lou to agree to give me a shot. He ordered a case of their morning blend coffee for our trial run. I created an online store called Beans-to-Go. I’m starting with local coffee shops and hope to expand over time. It’s a start, one that could be profitable down the road.
