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Casey joins Ruby and me behind the counter. Casey never looks any different—her face impassive and expressionless.
“Hey, Casey,” Ruby says. “You missed Chloe getting chatted up by a very handsome gentleman.” Casey glares at me, her face giving nothing away even though it’s clear what she’s thinking. “He was in here for a coffee, and then the next thing, he’s giving Chole his number.” Ruby seems to have reverted to her teenage years and is gossiping in the girls’ restroom. “Are you going to call him?” she asks.
I flash her a smile. The truth is I can’t think about anything other than Gianni, what I’ve told him, and the fact that he responded by walking out the door.
Casey adds, “Are you going to call him?” A sly grin arrives on her face.
“He wasn’t my type,” I tell her.
“You’re kidding.” Ruby sings. “He was very good-looking… blond hair, blue eyes. He wouldn’t have looked out of place in a boyband.”
“Hmm, definitely not your type, Chloe,” Casey comments. We share a look that Ruby picks up on.
“What’s your type then, Chloe?” Ruby asks.
“Tall, dark, brooding. Italian if possible,” Casey pipes up before I get a chance to answer.
“Casey!” I call, but it’s too late.
“Oh, I see.” Ruby doesn’t smile. I can see her putting the last piece of the jigsaw in. The questions I’d asked about Gianni and the obvious tension between us. “I take it you’re referring to Gianni,” Ruby guesses.
“No, Casey is just winding you up.” I force a smile as Casey grins, a genuine smirk that she has managed to rile me. She turns and walks into the office. Her work is done, and she’s bored now.
Ruby glares at me.
“It isn’t a good idea to have a crush on your boss,” she advises me. God, I feel about twelve, having been caught with graffiti declaring my love for my math teacher on my schoolbooks.
“I don’t have a crush on Gianni,” I tell her. I’m in love with him. Completely different.
“Well, take my advice and don’t get any ideas in your head. Gianni isn’t the type of man to fraternize with the staff. He’d never get involved with an employee.” I want nothing more than to correct her. I want to tell her that he fucked me several times last night, once in the kitchen, then again in the bedroom. But I like her too much. She isn’t being malicious. She’s only trying to let me down gently.
“Besides,” Ruby adds, “I don’t think he’s been in a relationship since his wife. I don’t think anyone could live up to her.” My heart misses a beat.
“If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m due a break,” I announce and manage a smile. I don’t want Ruby to think I’m sulking.
* * *
Piero arrives an hour before closing. He bustles into the shop with an insane grin that reminds me of the Joker. He greets Ruby like an old friend, and they spend several minutes cooing over pictures and videos of his baby and marveling at the tiny noises and facial expressions. All of these actions seem normal to me but, for some reason, amaze Ruby like she’s watching a video of a wonder child.
“Is it time for you to go home?” I ask Casey. She’s wiping down a surface that’s already clean. She may be here in body, but in her head, I think she left a long time ago.
“My bus isn’t due for another twenty-five minutes, so I might as well wait in here.” She exhales. It is as if every attempt to engage her in conversation completely bores her.
“What if it’s early?” I ask. Casey flips me a look.
“Boy, you’ve never used public transportation, have you?” she tuts. I shake my head. It is something I’ve never had to resort to. “They are never early. It’s a miracle if they are on time. Besides, I can see the bus stop from here.” She gestures out the window with her head, and I follow her gaze to the tiny shelter on the other side of the road. A few people stand in a huddle, heads down, phones out. The weather is fine this evening, with no sign of any rain, and I think it must be nice to travel by bus, without having to think about driving and traffic.
“Casey, you need to go home,” Ruby pipes up after finishing her conversation with Piero.
“I’m getting the feeling I’m not wanted.” Casey muses as she drops the cloth and makes her way over to the office. Ruby frowns at me.
“What did I say?” she asks.
“Oh, nothing.” I shake my head. “It’s Casey being Casey, that’s all.”
Five minutes later, Casey emerges from the office with her coat on and backpack slung over her shoulder.
“See you tomorrow,” Ruby calls as Casey opens the door, and I follow up with the same sentiment.
