Page 19 of The Merger
Gannon: 5:30 at Tapo’s.
Tapo’s? I balk.Tapo’s is a fancy breakfast spot. Surely, that’s a mistake.
Me: 5:30 in the morning?
Gannon: You can have your five minutes over breakfast. Take it or leave it.
My thumbs hit the keys, ready to ask him if he’s kidding because five thirty in the morning is asinine.
But then I stop.
Because he’s not kidding. He’s trying to make me back down and give up.
“Not happening, Mr. Brewer,” I say, typing out my reply.
Me: That’s so generous of you. I’ll see you bright and early!
He doesn’t respond, and although I want him to reply, we should end it here. Besides, I need to go share my good news with the family.
“Right.”
I snort and head back inside.
Chapter Five
Carys
“Well, this is a first,” I say, checking my reflection in the rearview mirror. “I’ve never gotten dressed and put on a full face of makeup before six in the morning in my entire life.”
I pucker my lips.
“Ew. Who let me buy this color?” I search the middle console for a napkin to try to blot some of the lipstick away but come up empty-handed. “It’s too late to worry about it now. Might as well forget about it.”
Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I grab my bag and step out of the car. The door squeals as I press it closed.I know. I feel ya. I don’t want to be up this early, either.
The parking lot is quiet, with only a few cars—most in the luxury price range. There is an unoccupied space between each vehicle. I can’t help but wonder if this is a rich person’s rule or a common courtesy that I don’t know.
I glance back at my little 1971 Gremlin with a white racing stripe.He might not be fancy, but he’s adorable.
“Here we go,” I say, blowing out a breath.
I step inside Tapo’s and am greeted immediately by creamy-colored walls and soft classical music. The lights are bright but warm, and the accent decor leans feminine. The vibe is ethereal but regal, and I wonder in the back of my mind how it would translate as a personal aesthetic.
“Table for one?” A pretty girl with a spattering of freckles interrupts my thoughts. “Or are you here for pickup?”
I blink. “People order pickup this early in the morning?”
She laughs. “I share that sentiment.”
“I’m here to meet someone,” I say, glancing around the restaurant for Gannon. “I don’t see him, though.”
“Are you looking for Mr. Brewer?”
“Yes, I am.”
“He said that he might have company today. Right this way.”
He said hemighthave company? Did he think I wouldn’t show up?
