Page 21 of Just My Puck
“Hey.” She gives Caleb a swift hug. “Sorry, we had to lock the door in case people didn’t see the sign. We’re just finishing cleaning up.” Turning to me, she says, “Hi, I’m Marissa—Oh, it’s you!”
Caleb and I both freeze.
“Wait. You know me?” I ask, the words burning my throat. My heart races faster than a freight train. Someone actually knows me.
“Not exactly.” She invites us in again, but I’m barely able to move. “You’re the girl who won the Raptors tickets. You came in for coffee.”
“Whoa,” Caleb exhales, shaking his head. “What a small world. That’s amazing! As you’ve probably heard, Aria has no recollection of her past. This is the first time someone has recognized her.”
And the first time I don’t feel like a ghost.
“Oh, right,” Marissa says, piecing it all together.
“Hey there,” another girl says, hustling from the backroom. She has short blonde hair and pretty grayish-blue eyes. “I’m Beth. Nice to meet—oh, wait, I recognize you.”
“Right?” Marissa says with a firm nod. “I’m a hundred-percent sure she’s the girl who won the tickets.”
“Definitely.”
“What else do you know about me?” I ask, my pulse quickening. “Am I a regular?” Please say yes. This place does feel familiar. At least, the nutty aroma of fresh-roasted coffee does.
“Sorry,” Beth says. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before Friday.”
“Same,” Marissa chimes in. “Well, you did say you’d just lost your new job and shouldn’t be spending your money on coffee.”
“And cookies,” Beth adds. “You also bought a chocolate chip cookie.”
“This is good,” Caleb says, a hand on my shoulder. “Really good. We’re making progress.” He leans toward me and whispers in my ear, “Although, we already knew you had a sweet tooth.” His breath on my ear makes my skin erupt in tingles.
“Sorry that we can’t be of more help,” Marissa says. “But we’ll have fun this afternoon. And who knows? Maybe other people will recognize you.”
“Yeah.” I smile, gnawing on my bottom lip. “Thank you.”
“Well, I have to go,” Caleb says, checking his watch. “But I trust you’re in good hands. Call me if you need anything.”
I feel like a kid being dropped off at daycare. In a way, I kind of am. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
“Bye, Caleb,” the girls call out as he leaves.
Marissa turns to me. “We’ll only be about ten more minutes, and then we can go. Do you want anything in the meantime? We have a few leftover cookies.”
“No, thanks. I already had waffles for breakfast, and I have no idea if I have a tendency to gain weight easily,” I joke, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Good point,” Marissa says with a chuckle. “We’ll wrap them up to eat later, anyway.”
She grabs a broom and starts sweeping the floor. And no matter where I stand, I feel like I’m in her way.
“I should wait outside,” I say. “I’m not helping you out by standing here.”
“Oh, you’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, really. I’m going to take a look at the bookstore across the street, and you can finish cleaning up in peace.”
Her eyes light up. “Ohhh, you’re a reader, huh? Welcome to the club.”
I shrug. “Well, Imightbe a reader. I’m enamored by that window display, for sure.”
“Everyone is,” Beth says from behind the counter. “I don’t really read, but those girls know how to put together an outstanding window.”
