Page 41 of Give Me Love

I grab my folder. “Well, maybe I’ll get some good news eventually and I’ll never have to tell you.” I stick my tongue out.

“Maybe so,” he replies, unenthused. I hold the folder over my head before I run for the door.

“Hey, Kathrine,” Bryce calls out.

I turn around and squint my eyes. “Yeah?”

“You working tomorrow?”

“I’ll be here.”

He nods. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

__________

The next day while I’m beating the side of the out-of-date espresso machine, Karen comes out of the back with her oversized vintage purse and wavy silver hair pinned back. She’s the picture of hippy with her stainless steel bangle bracelets. I love that about her, and I love the vibe she gives the place.

It’s in need of a makeover like something serious. Everything’s breaking down and wearing out. I hit the espresso machine again and it makes a gurgling noise, but it’s life for her and me. I’m sad she’s leaving, but I’m excited for my possible future owning this place. Hopefully, I can afford to do some fixing.

Let’s just hope you get it first.

My chest deflates at the thought that this might not work out. I can’t think that way. This is my plan. This has been my plan for years.

“I’m going to run some errands. You good here?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, thinking Becca, the other girl who works with us, will be here later if I need to step out. She smiles and gives me a wink.

“Don’t let that thing win,” she calls out over her shoulder as she walks through the door. It gurgles again and I smack it.

“You will not win.” I point to it.

I hear the bell ding above the door again. “Forget something?” I ask before turning around and wiping my hand on my dark blue and red frilly waist apron. It’s got books and cute hearts on it, but right now the only cute thing I’m looking at is Bryce. My eyes do a quick scan.

He wears light gray sweatpants that hang loosely off his hips and a white T-shirt. Nikes cover his feet.

My mouth slightly opens, and I blow a stray hair from my face. It’s thrown up in a loose bun today, and I wish I had taken a little more time on it.

He did tell me he’d be by, but I didn’t think he actually would.

“You gonna beat the thing to death, or can I get a coffee?” he asks.

I smile because I just can’t help it. He fills the place up, just standing in the middle of the room. My stomach swirls with sweet nerves and my eyes go to his full lips.

“I wasn’t beating it,” I reply.

He lifts a brow.

“Really,” I say. “That guy and I have an understanding.” I nod back toward the hell giver.

“Do you now?” He walks closer to the counter as I stand there with my hands placed on it.

“Yep.” His expression makes me bite my smile.

“What sort of understanding?” He leans his elbow on the counter casually.

“Well, he doesn’t do what I say and I smack him.”

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