Page 66 of Manic

"We both have," I correct him, thinking of Dasha and all the late nights we've put in. "It's nice to see it paying off."

Tindra pipes up, her mouth full of vegetables. "Can I start working there when I'm older, Mom?"

I choke on my water, coughing as Tor thumps me on the back. "Let's, uh, revisit that idea in a few years, okay?" I manage to say, picturing my daughter in the revealing uniforms we wear at the café.

Tindra groans, “Come on. You work there, and a lot of your friends. Why can’t I?”

Tor steps in, “Because you’re a minor and we know what the customers do that come in there. It’s just not something that’s on the table right now, sweetheart.”

I take another sip of water, clearing my throat. "Speaking of work, I actually need to head in early tomorrow. We've got a staff meeting before opening."

Tor chews on his food and nods, “Sounds good. I’ll stay here with Tindra and take her over to the club when we wake up.”

I arch a brow, “Oh, does that mean you’re planning on staying here tonight?”

Tor snickers, “Yeah, it does.”

I don’t know why but the way he doesn’t ask just drives me wild.

"Bring Tindra by the cafe around noon. I promised her we'd go get some shopping done after my shift."

***

Before long, it’s the next morning and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops me as I push open the door to Beans & Babes.

Soft pink light bathes the interior, casting a warm glow on the rustic wooden furniture.

I inhale deeply, savoring the mingled scents of vanilla and caramel.

"Morning, boss lady," Dasha calls from behind the counter, her lips curving into a smile. "Ready to talk business?"

I nod, making my way over. "More than ready. We've been slammed lately."

Dasha's eyes sparkle with excitement. "I know! It's incredible, right? Who knew Tallahassee was so thirsty?"

I can't help but laugh. "For coffee or eye candy?"

"Both, obviously," she winks, gesturing to her skimpy uniform. "These outfits are paying off big time in tips."

We settle into a quiet corner booth, steaming lattes in hand.

I take a moment to admire the floral murals adorning the walls, still in awe that we’re here.

"So," I begin, "I've been crunching the numbers. I think we can afford to hire a couple more girls."

Dasha's eyebrows shoot up. "Seriously? That's fantastic!"

I nod, a burst of pride warming my chest. "We're doing well enough to justify the expansion. Plus, it'll give us all a bit of breathing room in the schedule."

"God, yes," Dasha groans. "My feet have been killing me lately."

"Tell me about it," I commiserate, thinking of the long hours we've been putting in. "So, what do you think? Should we post the jobs and see what kind of interest we get?"

Dasha grins, raising her mug in a mock toast. "Absolutely. Let's do it."

As we discuss the details, my mind wanders to Tor.

It's strange how easily we've fallen back into each other's lives, as if the years apart were nothing more than a brief intermission.

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