Page 4 of The Luck of Finding You
“I don’t believe in fate.” To be honest, I don’t know what I believe in right now.
“Well, you should,” Annie tells me. “Because it’s what brought us here today.”
“I don’t think that’s how fate works.”
“How would you know, Mr. ‘I Don’t Believe in Fate’?” Annie holds up air quotes as she says the name.
I shrug. “Pretty sure we’re here because Grandma Marsha left us something in her will. Which is most likely the shop because that’s the only thing she really had.”
“You can think whatever you’d like. But I’m telling you, fate has something to do with this.” Annie proclaims this like she’s going to make me a believer. I say nothing; she can think she got me on this one.
“Would you be willing to move out here and run the shop with me if we can’t sell it?” Truthfully, I have no idea how any of this works. Our dad left when we were kids, and Mom is still alive and well, though she and Grandma Marsha had a rift between them years ago that was never fixed. I haven’t had anyone related to me die before, let alone leave me with something. I don’t know what we do with a store once it’s ours. Are there rules? Do we have to wait to sell it, or can we just sell it if we don’t want to stay here?
“Nope,” Annie replies, just like I knew she would.
“I just got the job of a lifetime,” Annie starts.
“I know, I know.” I am genuinely very proud of her. After years of working as a line chef, she finally got hired on to be a head chef at one of New York’s finest restaurants.
I can tell Annie’s smiling when she speaks again. “I’ve wanted this for so long, Noah, and I finally have it. So no, if Grandma Marsha left us her store, and the chances of that are high, I will not be working there with you. No way am I going to give up my dream.”
“All right,” I say as my stomach growls. “You want to go grab some food?”
“I’m still full from breakfast,” Annie says absently. She’s looking at her phone. “Plus, I’ve got three emails from my boss asking me to call her with some info about our new menu.”
“You’ll be back tomorrow. Does she really need it right now?” I ask. Her boss is just another reminder of why I don’t want to go back to working in an office, even if her office involves a kitchen. I work best alone.
Annie’s already holding her phone to her ear.
“I’m going to leave Mo,” I tell her and she nods, but she’s distracted by work. It’ll be easier to grab food if I don’t have my dog with me. As cute as he is, I’ve found that most restaurants don’t appreciate live animals on the premises.
* * *
Since we’re stayingat a hotel in downtown Provo, I head down Center Street. As I walk, it feels like I’ve stepped onto the set of a small-town movie. The buildings all have their original brick, but a lot of the insides have been updated to match the times. The trees lining the sidewalk have started to change colors. It’s cozy and quaint, and I know this was part of the charm that Grandma Marsha loved about living here.
I head toward the little café that makes my heart race every time I think about it. The only women in my life are my mom, my sister, and Nora. But always in the back of my mind is Tally. The girl I spent a single afternoon with, then screwed it all up.
Not that I could have found her even if I hadn’t messed everything up. I didn’t know her last name. All thanks to my stupid rules.
And so I’ve spent the last five years musing on—though Annie and my best friend, Sam, call it pining over— that single perfect afternoon.
I haven’t been back to the café since that day, even though I did come visit Grandma Marsha a handful of times.
Pausing in front of the café next to Grandma Marsha’s bookstore, I’m thrown back in time. I can feel Tally’s hand that fit so perfectly in mine, the electric shock that went through my body every single time I kissed her that afternoon, and the way her smile seemed to light up the entire world when she laughed.
For the millionth time since that day, I wish I could go back in time and relive those three hours over and over again, from when I offered to kiss her after her slimeball ex was staring at her like he wanted her back to walking down this very street for hours, talking, kissing, and laughing.
If I could go back, I’d end the day differently. I wouldn’t have left the way I did. I regretted it immediately, but by the time I turned back, Tally was already gone.
I let out a deep breath before pulling open the door to the café. Unlike that spring day all those years ago when it was empty, today it’s crammed full with people. As I make my way to the counter, I see a group of students studying and some ladies chatting. An older couple holding hands across their small table sends a pang through my heart. I’ve always wanted to settle down with someone, buy a house with a cute little picket fence and a wraparound porch. Despite it being my dream, I haven’t been able to settle down with anyone.
My last serious girlfriend gave me an ultimatum to propose or walk away. As much as I dream of that wraparound porch and a life with someone, I walked away. Better to walk away early than leave like my dad did when marriage and kids are involved. It’s been years since anyone told me that I reminded them of him, but the idea of being like him still haunts me.
The smell of fresh pastries hits me as I reach the counter. “What can I get for you?” The cashier smiles at me, and I look up at the menu for the first time.
I’m immediately overwhelmed by the expanse of options. “Uh, what’s good?”
“I personally love the strawberry-and-chocolate Danish. And if you’re wanting lunch food, we have fresh ham sandwiches that just came out of the oven. It’ll be the best sandwich you’ve ever tasted.”
