Page 55 of Espresso Your Love

“Are you enjoying it here, Ryan?” Mom asks.

“The people are great. Max and I are getting in a good rhythm here.”

“Any Lorelais, hmm?” Sadie wiggles her eyebrows at me.

“Who’s Lorelai?” Mom looks at me. “Have you met someone?”

Of course, this topic has to be brought up. I squint my eyes at Sadie.

“There are no Lorelais here,” I respond, dryly.

“I’m sure there’s some single pretty women here. In fact, we saw a couple while we went to the market,” Mom says as she serves the food.

“And at Coffee Loft.” Sadie smiles.

“Oh, that barista was so cute! What was her name?” Mom asks innocently.

“Ashley?” I ask.

“Yes, she was such a sweetheart!” Mom smiles.

“I knew it! I told you she could work there.” Sadie points at me.

“No, it’s not Ashley. I mean, Ashley works at Coffee Loft, but I don’t like Ashley.”

Mom smiles at me, knowingly. “Well, then who do you like?”

“Mom…” I look at her trying to telepathically get her to let it go.

The doorbell rings. Perfect, I’ll have to give a big thank you to whoever it is for saving me.

As I open the door, a small silhouette stands on the porch. Cassie is illuminated by the dim light on the doorframe. “Hey, Ryan.”

“Uh, hi. I thought you were gone until tomorrow?”

“No, it was just a quick day trip.”

“Oh.” I glance over at my mom and sister who are staring at me, waiting for me to tell them who’s at the door.

“Are you busy? I can come back.” She starts to turn, but I grab her arm.

“No, I—”

My mom pushes into my arm. “Well, hello there! I’m Margie.” She holds out her hand.

“I’m Cassie, a pleasure to meet you.” She shakes Mom’s hand.

“Ryan, we don’t want to be rude, now do we? Invite the girl in for dinner.” She gives a single nod of her head and then walks to the table.

“That’s my mom,” I tell Cassie quietly. “You don’t have to come in for dinner.”

“We don’t want to be rude, now do we?” She gives me a sly grin and pushes past me.

When I said, “Bring it on, Meadowbrook,” this is not what I meant. I sigh and shut the door.

I follow Cassie into the dining room, my eyes on her the whole time. She walks into my home like she belongs here, probably partially because it has the same layout as hers, and partially because she has this confidence about her.

“Mom, Sadie, this is Cassie. Cassie, this is my family.”

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