Page 6 of Deja Brew

The street’s deserted. Everyone cleared out when the rain began, but the man aims for the main road. He doesn’t have an umbrella and his hair’s plastered to his head. It’s probably nothing.

Then again, could it behim,checking I got home safe? Or for something worse. Unease spreads through my chest, but not because it’s probably him looking through my window.

But because I’m not frightened.

3

LEO

Last night Lilyput through a rush order, which means after making sure she got to work safely, I hurried home, attempted to nap for an hour, and left for work to deliver whatever she desperately needs.

Not that I’m complaining. It’s for Lily and I’d do anything for her because I love—no one. I love no one. As long as she’s happy I’m happy, which means I need to get her rush order to her on time. The windscreen wipers scrape away the rain and I back into the alleyway to park the truck.

Her hair was loose this morning. Red waves blowing in the wind and brushing against her face. Her hair’s probably knotted from the wind and in need of a good brush.

It would be weird if I offered to brush it. Still, if she handed me a brush, I’d do it.

The streetlights barely penetrate the dark. Her coworker hadn’t shown up by the time I left, which set off a churning anxiety in my stomach knowing she was there alone. The girl should’ve arrived before I left, so she’s either sick, late, or has the day off, and none of those options make me remotely happy.

So I’m here early to deliver Lily’s package. She won’t know that, technically, it’s not due for another two hours. But I needed to make sure she was safe.

The truck door slams behind me and stinging droplets of rain blind my eyes. I blink rapidly and open the back of the truck to find her package. There are only two boxes, so I leave the pallet trolley behind, stack them on top of each other, and lift them. I grunt. Whatever she needs so desperately might kill me from the weight of it. With a longing glance at my trolley, I aim for the backdoor quickly and hope it’s open. Although, if it’s unlocked I’ll be having words with Lily.

I fumble with the door, attempting to open it while holding the boxes and have a burst of satisfaction when I realise it’s locked, quickly followed by terror when the boxes slip.

The door opens as I rebalance the boxes and pant for breath. No way am I breaking any of her stuff.

“Good catch.” The delicate voice comes from the doorway and I blink through raindrops to see Lily’s blurry face appear, looking at me with a smile.

“Well, I couldn’t have your rush order ruined, could I?” I stand on the concrete steps in front of the door and stare at her. She’s changed her hair to a knot at the top of her head with small pieces floating around her face that I’m desperate to tuck behind her ears and then capture on canvas. The warm lights behind her thread gold through her hair. The boxes dig into my arms and a droplet of water runs past my eyebrow. “Whatever it is will be ruined if it’s in the rain all day.”

She jumps in surprise as if only realising it’s raining. “Oh, sorry. Come inside.”

Lily ushers me inside her warm café and closes the door with a snick, sealing us in together. I’ve never come here so early before. Only ever seen the café busy with workers rushing around their stations, and attempted to stay out of their way.

“You’re here early.” Her smile brightens the room and sends relief through my chest seeing her safe. No one else is here, but she’s all right. The door was locked and nothing happened while I wasn’t watching.

Still, I refuse to stop watching in case something does happen.

“Thought you might want it earlier.”

“Let me help.” She reaches for a box, but I jerk away from her and ignore her confused look.

“It’s heavy. Where do you want it?” There’s no way I’m letting her carry a box. She might hurt her back. Or the box could scrape her arm. I’m sure she’s used to carrying and moving boxes, but that doesn’t mean she has to. Not when I’m here.

“Are you sure?”

I nod and hide my wince when my arms start throbbing. The boxes aren’t getting any lighter.

Lily glances to the right where a table sits scattered with paper, clips, and keys, and points at a door on the opposite wall. “Down the stairs in the storeroom, please.”

My arms are turning numb, and I shiver as droplets of water run from my hair down my back, but I follow her directions. I descend the stairs carefully so I don’t drop everything, and when I reach the bottom, I find empty floor space to set the boxes down. A sigh escapes me and I rub feeling back into my arms.

Lily appears beside me and smiles. “Thank you.”

I nod at her and manage to contain my grin to a small smile. There are shelves across the walls holding boxes of ingredients and packaging and other objects I don’t understand. “So, this is where it all starts?”

“Yeah.”

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