Page 9 of Believe in Caloosa Springs

“We’ll if they look anything like what you brought me last week, hornworms are the only thing thatshouldbe eating them! They had no color at all. They looked like ghosts, for Christ’s sake!”

”They’re heirlooms!”

”They’rebullshit!”

“There was nothing wrong with those tomatoes! You’re just difficult to be difficult! I’d never seen a more perfect piece of fruit!”

“Oh yeah? Well, why don’t you try kissing my ass, Frank. It’s a real peach!”

“I’m outta here! You’re nuts!”

“Hey, leave the blackberries on the counter!”

“Oh,now you want the blackberries?”

“Get out, Frank!”

“Mypleasure!” Frank screamed as he burst through the metal swinging doors. His face was as red as, well… as a tomato. He stomped through the back counter area, making his exit without saying another word.

Mandy turned to me.

“Well, I was going to introduce you to Sam, but I think maybe we’ll do that some other time.”

“Is that who I just heard rip that six-foot corn-fed-looking dude a new one?”

Mandy nodded.

“Yikes. I’m good, I think.”

As if summoned, the kitchen doors swung open again, revealing a man in a white apron. He wasshortfor being that loud.

“Good morning!” he greeted, a beaming smile spread across his face. That certainly couldn’t be the same person I’d just heard hurling insults that I was going to have to Google later.

“Morning, Sam. I wanted you to meet my cousin, Tian. He’s staying with me for a couple months.”

“A couplemonths?” I repeated incredulously. “I told you: thirty days, tops.” I turned back to Sam. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Mandy rolled her eyes. “We’ll see.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sam replied, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. “Hey, Cam, has Wyatt been in yet?”

Cameron shook his head as he set two steaming chai lattes down on the counter in front of us. The scent of delicious spice carried in the steam rolling off the mugs, and my mouth watered. “When has Wyattevercome by without hopping into the kitchen to see you?”

Sam sighed.

“Everything okay, Sam?”

“Yeah, he’s just been distracted lately—the last week or so. He says everything’s fine, but he’s lying.”

“How do you know?” Mandy asked.

Sam scoffed, “He likes to think he’s so mysterious and broody, but I can read the man like a fucking newspaper.”

I laughed. “Most men can.”

Mandy’s phone rang. “Morning, Oliver,” Mandy said by way of answering. “Yeah, I’m grabbing coffee at Cassie’s. Need anything?” After a pause, Mandy started laughing. “Yes, I’m on my way. Tell him I’ll be there soon.”

Mandy threw her phone into her black leather shoulder bag. “We gotta go. The new hires are starting to arrive, and Ty is freaking out.”

---