Page 29 of Of Literature and Lattes
“I’m hiring you. I’m serious about this, Alyssa. This isn’t friendship; this is my business... Both the firms I interviewed charge about five thousand for this kind of job, and you’re as qualified as they are. I’d rather hire you.”
“Five thousand? I can’t take that.”
“But you can do the work, right?”
“Yes. Of course.” Alyssa tapped her hand on the table between them. “Can you pay me three thousand?” At Lexi’s dark expression, she shook her head. “It’s enough, and if you’re wowed, tip me extra, because I can do this; but you’re helping me out here too, and three thousand would be huge for me right now. Huge.”
Before Lexi could reply, a shadow fell across their table.
Lexi looked up first. “Jeremy. I have someone for you to meet. Alyssa, Jeremy Miller. Jeremy, Alyssa—”
“Harrison.” Jeremy talked over Lexi.
“You’ve met?” Lexi glanced to Alyssa.
“No,” Alyssa offered in concert with Jeremy’s “Last week.”
Alyssa stared.
Jeremy shrugged. “I took a guess. You look exactly like your mom. You sound like her too.”
Alyssa dropped her gaze to Lexi, who nodded and whispered, “You do, but I didn’t think you’d want to hear it.”
Jeremy pointed to Alyssa’s cup. “Do you like the Yirgz? I saw you ordered it again today.”
Lexi widened her eyes.
Alyssa pretended not to notice. “I definitely taste that lemon and vanilla this time.”
“Really?” Jeremy narrowed his eyes, but a smile hitched on one side. “I told Brendon to give you the San Roque, just to give you a new experience and all. Clementines and cherry cola.”
“Oh...”
“I’m messing with you. It’s the Yirgz.” He ran his hands down the half apron tied at his waist. “Can I get you ladies anything else?”
“I think we’re good.” Lexi’s tone carried too much laughter for Alyssa’s comfort.
“Say, what do you think of the art?” He gestured to the four small portraits hanging in a vertical line near the window. “I think I finally got the lighting right.”
Alyssa straightened. “What?”
“Your mom’s paintings... I kinda begged her for them. It was a messy moment because she refused to sell them. But then she gave them to Madeline, who gave them to me. I think she still might come steal them one day. But I really liked them and thought the colors set off the muted tones in here well. You must see them all the time, but they really spoke to me. She won’t tell me who the subject is.” He paused, but when Alyssa didn’t reply, he rushed on. “I had LED bulbs on them, but the beams were too bright. Your mom’s work needs a broader, softer light. I got these warmer halogens yesterday.”
“They look great.” Alyssa nodded. She hadn’t processed a word past “your mom’s paintings.”
“Thank you. I’m hoping they’ll start conversations or something. But maybe they’ll only make me happy.”
Lexi gestured to them and raised a brow to Alyssa. “You know who that is?”
Alyssa nodded, only now recognizing what she should have seen at once.
Jeremy looked between them, then back to the paintings. “Oh... Wow... I... They’re of you. I...” He stared at her. “I...” He repeated the word as if trying to backtrack through all he’d said in order to recant any imprudent words. He stopped, probably with the realization that he was now staring at her, and shook himself free. “They’re beautiful.”
Alyssa blushed and said nothing to either of them.
Lexi broke the moment. “Enough of art. Jeremy, come join us... I have an idea for you.” She reached to the empty table next to them and dragged a chair over.
Alyssa widened her eyes.
