Page 2 of How To Not Need You

"It's the best one."

Apparently she'd found it in one of the gardens outside the reception. According to Tilly, it now belonged to me. I stare at it for a second before dropping it back into the bowl with more care than I'd ever admit out loud.

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I lock the apartment behind me and head downstairs. The morning air is cool, carrying the familiar scent of salt from the ocean and fresh bread from somewhere nearby.

Seabrook is only just waking up. The sensible thing would be to get straight to work.

Instead, my feet turn automatically towards Page & Grounds.

Because if there's one thing stronger than intrusive thoughts about an attractive firefighter, It's caffeine.

And if Harper happens to already be there

Well. She definitely doesn't need to know about the photo I just rescued from the digital graveyard. She'll figure it out anyway.

The bell above the door jingles as I step into Page & Grounds. Warmth wraps around me almost immediately, along with the familiar smell of freshly ground coffee and baked pastries. If heaven exists, I have a strong suspicion it smells like espresso and cinnamon rolls.

"Well, look who finally decided to join society."

I glance towards the coffee machine where Luca is steaming milk with one hand while somehow taking an order with the other. He finishes the order and looks up at me.

"I'm two minutes later than usual."

"You were thirty-seven seconds late on Thursday too."

"You timed me?"

"I notice things."

"That's somehow more concerning than impressive."

He flashes me a grin. "Good morning to you too, sunshine.” I roll my eyes as I make my way towards the counter.

"Morning, Liv," Mia, the new barista says from the register.

"Morning."

"The usual?"

"Please."

She punches it into the register before I even finish answering. One of the many perks of frequenting the same café almost every morning is never having to explain your coffee order. Nothing to do with the fact that two of my best friends own the place. Nope. Not at all.

One of the many downsides is that everyone notices when you don't show up. Cup in hand a minute later, I scan the café. Every table is occupied, laptops and coffee cups competing for space. Someone's dog is asleep beneath a chair near the window, blissfully unaware that it's become the unofficial mascot of the morning crowd. Luca leaves the counter to move between tables with the kind of organised chaos that only seems to make sense to him.

Everything exactly as it should be.

Including Harper, already sitting at our usual table tucked against the bookshelves, a notebook open beside her coffee. She looks up as I approach.

"You're late."

I narrow my eyes. "I was literally just told that."

"By Luca?"

"Naturally."

"He told me to say it."