Page 14 of Solitude

“I’ll be back.” She points a manicured finger at me. “Don’t burn my shop down in the meantime, Winnie.”

“Wait, so I should leave the stove on and play with matches while you’re gone?” I frown, biting my nail as I stare at her wide eyed. “Instructions unclear…”

“La, la, laaaa! I’m ignoring that! Behave.”

My laughter follows her out of the doors, and I wait until she’s fully out of the building and let the door swing shut before I get started on cleaning up a bit and frosting cupcakes. I make an iced cinnamon latte to sip on while I work quietly.

Thirty minutes later, there were no customers coming inside, and I’m sitting around bored.

I send a quick text to Gwen.

Did you take all of the customers with you when you left??

Hahah you could frost the cupcakes if you’re bored?

Done

I guess just ride the clock and wait then. Might take care of some other errands while I’m out if it’s that dead?

Go for it

What am I going to do when you leave me?!?!

I try not to let that get to me, but it’s hard not to when there’s nothing to take my mind off of things. I don’t want to think about the end of summer or the future in any capacity.

So I pull my green claw clip off my apron pocket where I put it after I finished frosting the cupcakes and shove it back in my hair then grab a wet rag and scrub at the counters, tables, and chairs all over again.

The bell above the door dings as the doors fly open, and I glance up then back at the table. “Welcome to Sugar. I’ll be with you in just a second.”

I scrub the spot one more time before I conclude that it is indeed just a part of the marble then wander back behind the counter and wash my hands before moving to the register.

“What can I do for you today?” I ask, tapping the screen and entering my code for the system.

When I finally lift my eyes and get a good look at the man standing in front of me, chest squeezing, I blink a couple times, sure I’ve seen a ghost. But then my eyes adjust, and I realize it isn’thim. It’s his twin.

Bennett stares at the menu with squinted eyes, oblivious to my heart palpitations.

Why is he here?And if he’s here, does that mean…?

His shirt is sticking to his chest and back, wet with what I assume is sweat. His hair is damp, too, sticking out at odd angles as he huffs.

“I want an iced coffee,” he says sheepishly. “Just the coffee. Nothing else.”

I can’t helpthe small smile that crosses my lips at his apparent embarrassment over ordering a plain coffee. “Sure. Anything else?”

“Make that two iced coffees. Please.”

“Of course.”

I take his payment then get to work on his coffee. It only takes a couple of minutes thanks to the simplicity of his order, and I find myself trying to draw the time out. Just a few minutes.

When they’re ready, I slide them across the counter with a small smile and look over his shoulder like maybe, just maybe, his twin will appear behind him. I almost ask. I almost open my big mouth and embarrass myself by asking abouthimbefore realizing how dumb that would be.

Bennett thanks me, a polite smile on his face as he takes his coffees and leaves just as quickly as he came inside.

I stare after him for entirely too long.

“Sienna, I really don’t want to study right now,” I groan into the phone as I try to focus on the muted television. “I haveHow to Lose a Guy in Ten Dayson, and I need to focus on Matthew, Si.”

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