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“That I haven’t seen a problem at all.”
“That I roll off you and I’m asleep two seconds later?”
Tatum’s turn to laugh. “I didn’t tell her that, but it’s kinda true.”
“Yeah, after round three or four.”
Tatum straightened. “You’re a mess.”
“Tell me.” He sighed and rubbed at the drywall dust on his arm.
“Don’t do that here!” she yelped.
“Right. I need coffee.”
“Want it iced?”
“Hell, no. I said coffee.”
She flipped a paper cup over with a smirk on her face and poured as his mom appeared behind her.
“Charlie. Are you harassing my temporary staff?”
“Of course not.” He took the full cup when Tatum offered it to him. “Just told her I like her in an apron.”
His mom gave him a sharp look. “Careful. Not a compliment in this day and age, young man.”
“Oh, it was the way he said it,” Tatum announced. His mom looked from Tatum back to Charlie.
“Say no more.” She nodded. “Everleigh called, Tatum. Do you need her to pick anything up for you? She’s grabbing subs for us for lunch.”
“Sure, that sounds great.”
“I’ll text her.” His mom pulled her phone from her back pocket. The door behind him opened again, but Charlie didn’t pay much attention. “Charlie? You want anything?”
“No thanks. I brought lunch from home.”
“What’d you make him, Tatum?” she asked without looking up from her phone.
Tatum snorted.
“You could save rent money,” his mom continued.
“Little soon for that, don’t you think?” he asked, eyes locked with Tatum’s. He thought she might look startled at his mom’s suggestion, but she was smiling.
And then she wasn’t. Charlie put his cup down and reached over the counter for her. She was suddenly pale, a severe frown on her face.
“Tatum?” He tipped his head as he took her hand.
“Tatum.” The voice that repeated her name came from behind him. He turned as Tatum yanked her hand free of his. A skinnier, harder version of Tatum stared back at them with wide, hungry eyes.
30
“Sutton.”
It was hard to speak, to get that one word out. Tatum wasn’t sure if it felt like she’d swallowed her tongue or choked up her heart, but there was a knot of something in her throat. Her worst nightmare had just come true: Sutton showing up out of nowhere when she was with Charlie and Adele.
“You’re working in a coffee shop?”
