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One
Sierra
I lookedup from my book as Kylie plunked a coffee on the table in front of me.
“Peppermint latte with almond milk,” she said, sliding into the seat across from me. Unlike me, she had a shift this afternoon and wasn’t just hanging out at Fountain of Youth because she didn’t feel like being home.
“Why do I have a feeling this is a bribe and I shouldn’t touch that coffee unless I want to sell my soul?”
She sighed. “So you know that guy from the party last weekend? Andy? Well, he has to babysit for his sister and he asked me to help.”
I raised my eyebrows. “That’s his idea of asking you on a date? You get to take care of his sister’s kid?”
She continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “But it’s Saturday afternoon, and I’m on the schedule, so…”
I knew it. “So the coffeeisa bribe. You want me to take your shift on Saturday.”
“Please, Sierra. Please, please, please.” She folded her hands in front of her chest for emphasis.
Kylie had the worst taste in men of anyone I knew. Chances were she could do way better than this Andy, but there was also almost no chance she’d believe that right now. She never did until after the situation was already out of hand.
“I really like him.” She nudged the coffee closer to me. “I’ll also buy you lunch for a week.”
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. She couldn’t afford to buy my lunches. Not with her student loans coming due. She needed every penny she could save, and that meant she really shouldn’t be giving up her shifts.
“How about this,” I said, opening my eyes. “I’ll take your shift on Saturday, but you have to take mine tomorrow as soon as you get out of class. If you’re a minute late, the deal is off.” I wrapped my hand around the coffee mug and raised my eyebrows.
Making her switch shifts with me was more about her getting enough hours in than it was about me wanting the time off. I liked being in the café and didn’t mind picking up extra time here. But since Kylie paid half the rent and utilities for the apartment we shared, I had a vested interest in making sure she worked enough and was on top of her bills.
“Deal.” Kylie grinned at me, and I hoped this wouldn’t turn out to be another horrible life choice for her.
“Remember, he’s not moving in, you’re not giving him a key, and he’s not coming over until he’s been okayed by Sev, Joanna, and me.” Yes, I know exactly how that sounded, but it was a condition I’d needed before I could agree to get a place with Kylie. I didn’t want to take out a restraining order and have to change the locks every time she broke up with another crazy person she’d once thought could be the one.
“I remember. Thank you, Sierra. You’re the best.” She jumped up from her chair and headed back to the counter.
I waited until she was gone before sending off a text to my cousin, also known as Kylie’s ex-boyfriend and the reason I’d met her in the first place.
Me:I may need you to do another background check soon.
Aiden:*eye roll emoji* You need a new roommate.
Me:Not going to happen. She needs me.
Aiden:Yeah, I know. I love you for watching out for her. I’ve got your back. Just let me know what you need.
Aiden really had loved Kylie at one point, but they’d fallen apart sometime shortly after he finished at the police academy. And when I say “fell apart,” I mean they crashed and burned so hard we didn’t know if they’d ever speak to each other again.
Kylie had come a long way from rock bottom, and Aiden had traveled a long road toward forgiveness. I was proud of both of them.
I tucked my phone back in my pocket and returned my attention to my novel.
Hours slipped by while I read and generally avoided my empty apartment. People came and went, filling the café with the sounds of general chatter and silverware scraping against plates. Fountain of Youth was one of a number of places I called home, and I preferred it to my apartment most of the time.
When the sun started setting outside the wall of windows, I tucked the book into my purse and headed into the back room.
“Kylie, I’m heading out,” I called. “See you tonight.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” Merida—my boss, owner of Fountain of Youth, and childhood best friend to my mother and aunt—leaned against the take-out counter. “It’s on me.”
