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“She’s cool. I like her hair.”

“Then we agree.”

Beatrice grimaced. “I want my rock.” Then she was gone.

I let out a long sigh. I was pretty sure she’d only negotiated with me so she’d get something to throw at a window.

But anything was better than her openly hating me.

17

JADE

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Hu Gh: I can’t believe how bad things have gotten. I finally made my way to the diner and how does Tammy thank me? Turning on the HEAT! I AM AN OLD MAN AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO AIR CONDITIONING!

Comments:

Tammy Jane: Hugh, I posted about the air being out a week ago! Now I know this group has been busy with Jade’s ex returning, but come on now! Where the hell have you been anyway?

Hu Gh: I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT

Tammy Jane: Don’t read me your Miranda rights . . .

Hu Gh: WHO IS MIRANDA??? IS SHE RELATED TO ALEX???

My eyes slowly opened. I was drooling hard, but I saw my bright purple sheets and made myself sit up.

“What the fuck,” I said. “I’m home?”

I’d obviously sleepwalked. I’d fallen asleep on the couch and I was in my bed, but usually my sleepwalking included me trying to find someone else’s.

It used to be Gabriel’s.

It was never my own.

Last night had been a risk, but I’d been so tired that I couldn’t bring myself to care.

I’d gotten lucky.

And apparently scored good sleep while I was at it.

Over the years, I’d become used to existing in a perpetual state of exhaustion. I carried it with me like a backpack and only felt it get lighter when Gabriel was here.

This was the first time since then that I felt somewhat rested.

“Fuck yeah,” I said to myself. “Looks like I just need to wrangle children all day to sleep.”

As I got up to open my shop, I realized I needed a treat for my good rest.

The best place to go was The Reserved Bean. Strawberry Springs hadn’t had good coffee for as long as I could remember. The local diner’s coffee was disgusting and we didn’t have anywhere else to go. Now that it was open, we all loved it, and every single one of us did our best to make sure that Theo stayed in business.

Even without us, I had a feeling he would do well. Oftentimes, people stopped in Strawberry Springs purely for The Reserved Bean. Sometimes, people came from neighboring towns since there were no coffee shops close to them. With baked goods added to the menu, he was busy all hours of the day up until he closed.

Not too long ago, he’d suggested a lavender latte to me and that was all that I ever ordered. Even though I was rested, that was the treat I craved. Hell, if it hit like it usually did, I might have the energy to clean the back room of the shop.

When I walked in, Theo wasn’t behind the counter, which wasn’t much of a surprise. These days, he was so busy roasting his own blend of coffee that his other employees manned the front. Kelsey was his main barista, and he’d also hired a recent high school graduate. Both were great people.