Page 2
“Pumpkin spice latte with a shot of chocolate,” Brian echoed.
“Pumpkin spice latte with—who the hell puts chocolate with pumpkin spice?” Hannah finished as she stepped out of the kitchen, untying her apron as she came.
“Hey!” the guy at the counter protested with a laugh. “Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
“Oh, I’ll knock it alright,” Hannah snorted in return, heading toward the open door of the café’s office. “You always were weird, Jerry.” She winked.
“And you’re always a delight,” Jerry teased her in return.
The exchange had me beaming. That’s what I loved about Common Grounds and this little slice of Glenside. It was why I’d jumped at the opportunity to take the brand-new shop Kyle Jameson had built when my buddy Chase told me about it, even before he’d finished construction. I just knew I’d fit into the vibe of the place.
At least, I hoped I would fit into the vibe of the place. I was a little worried about integrating with everything and making friends so far.
Which probably explained the Manchego.
My old friend, Chase Montgomery, the lead barista for Common Grounds’s afternoon shift, came out of the office as Hannah stepped in. He grinned when he saw me, or rather the cheese in my hand.
“What did you bring over today?” he asked, joining Diccon behind the counter as Diccon did something to the register to switch between the two of them.
“Wait, wait, let me guess,” Diccon said, scrutinizing the cheese as I put it on the counter. “Cheddar, right?”
“No, dude,” Chase said, laughing. “Cheddar is orange.”
“Not all cheddar,” I explained. “I have an amazing white cheddar that just came in. I’ll bring you a sample tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to keep bringing us cheese,” Diccon said, changing places with Chase and taking off his apron.
“Shh!” Chase silenced him. “Let the man bring us cheese.”
Diccon laughed. “Well, if you insist.” He picked up the wheel, then broke into a smile and said, “Manchego! I do know this one after all.”
“Yes,” I said, enjoying his victory. “This is just a mini wheel, but I thought maybe, if you like it, you could share with your customers and tell them where it came from.”
“I’ve got it,” Diccon said, tapping the side of his nose then pointing at me. “This isn’t kindness and neighborly sharing, it’s all marketing.”
“Well, it’s both,” I said.
I meant it. I was trying so hard to make friends and find a place in the community, but so far, I felt like the Meyers family and the employees of Common Grounds were the only people I’d really connected with. I loved them, but I wanted more.
“I just wanted to check how things are going for the Halloween party,” I went on, resting one hip against the counter.
“They’re going great,” Diccon said. “We’ve got refreshments covered, Ivan is going to DJ for us, and fliers have been put up all over town.”
“Is there anything else you need me to do?” I asked, stepping to the side as Diccon did when a new customer strolled through the front door and up to the counter for Chase to take his order.
“Not really,” Diccon shrugged. “We’re set at the moment. Just bring your smiling face and delicious cheese on the day. Oh, and wear a costume. The theme this year is morbid historical.”
“That’s a really specific theme,” I laughed, although I already had an idea for a costume that fit the theme and how I would put it together.
“We’ve used up pretty much every other theme in past years,” Diccon said. “Theo suggested this one.”
“It’s a good idea,” I said. “And a timely one.”
“Timely?” Diccon looked intrigued.
I winced slightly, unsure how the issue I was about to raise would land with my new friends. “Yeah. You know I just bought a house a couple blocks away, right?”
“I do.” Diccon nodded and crossed his arms. “Though how you managed to buy one of those old Victorians mere seconds after opening a new shop is a mystery to me.”
