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I gave up all pretense of cleaning anything and watched the pair of them.
Titus tipped his head, obviously puzzled. “What do you suggest?”
“Do you like matcha?”
“Y-yes. Do you have matcha?”
“Is this not a well-established coffeehouse?Of coursewe have matcha.”
Suddenly catching on to the real reason Rose had gone to Georgia, I smiled so wide my cheeks hurt. She might’ve visited family while there, yes, but I had no doubt she’d also stopped by a certain boutique coffee shop to learn a special recipe.
“I didn’t see it on the menu,” Titus said, measuring his words carefully.
“Sometimes we make exceptions. How about lavender? Or chai?” she asked loftily, as if she suggested these options a dozen times a day. “Care for those flavors?”
His lip twitched, and it seemed like he was trying his best to suppress a smile but couldn’t stop it from forming. It burst forth, blooming like a delicate flower bud reaching for a shaft of sunlight. “In fact, I do.”
“Then I have just the thing for you. Just give me a quick second.”
“I have all the time in the world for you.”
I just about swooned. I didn’t think people could actually swoon. I thought it was simply an old-timey phrase thrown around in historical romances, but no. It’s real.
Rose glanced at Titus. For a moment, I was certain they didn’t know anyone else existed. It was only the two of them in a magical bubble. I could only imagine the silent promises that crossed between. My heart was full to bursting. They made me believe that there could be happily-ever-afters. That therewerehappily-ever-afters.
A woman came inside and glanced around in the way that told me she’d never been here before, and Rose and Titus both turned toward the door, bursting their romantic bubble. Rose quickly looked down as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t have and finished making the drink.
She slid it across the counter, ice cubes bobbing in the milky green liquid. “One iced matcha latte, with a double shot of espresso, chai, and lavender syrup. On the house, since you’re such a loyal customer here at Magpie’s. Anything else I can do for you today?”
I held my breath. Even the newcomer was watching them carefully, as if instinctively knowing Something Major was happening here. Tension crackled in the air.
Titus said, “Yes, in fact. I’d like it very much if you’d join me for dinner, Rose. Tonight? Tomorrow? Whenever you have time to spare.”
I glanced at Estrelle and grinned. Her eyes were dancing as she took in the scene, and it was wonderful to see the joy in her silvery gaze.
Rose lifted her chin. “For you, I have all the time in the world.”
He smiled, and she returned it tenfold, absolutely beaming.
“Tonight, then. SixP.M.? I’ll pick you up.” He lifted his fancy coffee off the counter. “Thank you for this. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
With that, he gave her a nod and headed for the door.
We all watched him leave, and the woman who’d come in said, “I don’t suppose he has a single brother?”
Rose smiled. “I’m not sure, but if he does, you best snap him up fast.”
I came around the counter to help with the new order, and I glanced at Rose, who had a goofy grin on her face. “What happened to not dating men who iron their jeans?”
She huffed. “Like I said, Ava, sometimes we make exceptions.”
I was still laughing when I heard the door open and instantly the room went quiet. All the noise was sucked out into the square, leaving only a heavy silence.
I looked up and my breath caught. My heart squeezed. My head spun.
Because a ghost had just walked in.
My whole body started shaking, and I swayed, lightheaded and woozy, feeling faint. The last thing I remembered before my world went dark was saying Alexander’s name.
