Page 2 of Tides of Discovery
Several people had already left, either not having cash or unwilling to wait through the technical issue. With each departure, Cooper’s smile tightened further, though I doubted anyone else would notice the difference.
I worked quickly and brought the system back online. Something about the intrusion pattern felt familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. I’d need more time to investigate properly.
“You’re a lifesaver,” Cooper said when the POS came back to life. The relief in his voice was palpable.
“Just a temporary fix,” I warned. “We’ll need to do a complete security overhaul later.”
Cooper winced. “How much will that cost?”
“For you?” I met his worried gaze directly.
“Jack…” Cooper started, his voice full of warning. The furrow between his brows deepened in that stubborn expression I’d known since our sophomore days.
“A cup of coffee.” I shrugged as if it were the most obvious answer in the world.
He shook his head in frustration, but said, “Thank you. What would I do without you?”
I hoped he would never have to find out. The thought of not being part of Cooper’s life made my gut twist in a way no cybersecurity emergency ever could.
With the crisis averted, Cooper returned to serving customers with his usual charm, and I returned to my seat.
The bell above the door jingled as someone entered, bringing with them a gust of chilly early-January air. I shivered andhunched deeper into my jacket. Seacliff Cove winters weren’t harsh compared to other parts of the country, but the coastal dampness had a way of seeping into my bones.
I glanced up instinctively as Ryan and his daughter entered. The family resemblance was striking—Ryan and Cooper were both strong-jawed, model-worthy men.
Cooper was completely out of my league.
Ryan nodded toward me with a smile of recognition. “Oh. Hey, Jack.”
I returned the greeting with a wave, trying to look like I’d been focused on my email and not staring at Cooper. Ryan and I had met several times since I’d moved to Seacliff Cove last spring. Recently divorced, he was friendly but reserved.
Lily bounced beside Ryan, a tiny bundle of energy in unicorn leggings and a puffy pink coat. “Uncle Cooper!” She broke free from her father’s hand and raced toward the counter, her sneakers squeaking against the hardwood floor.
Cooper’s entire demeanor changed, his professional barista stance melting into something softer as he came around the counter and scooped Lily into a hug. “Hey, munchkin! What are you doing here on a school day?”
“Teacher conference. Thought we’d stop by,” Ryan said, and approached his brother at a more reasonable pace than Lily’s.
“I made this for you!” Lily waved a piece of paper.
Cooper released her and examined the drawing with exaggerated seriousness. “This is your best work yet. It’s going right on the wall of fame.”
Cooper immediately went to the wall behind the counter, where several other masterpieces already hung, and carefully taped the new addition with reverence.
My phone pinged with an incoming email, an urgent request from a client in New York. The joys of being a remote cybersecurity analyst—there was always a time zone with anemergency. I sent a quick reply promising to look into their issue, but my mind kept returning to Cooper.
Moving to Seacliff Cove last spring had been the most terrifying decision of my life. I’d pitched it to myself as a practical decision: escape the Silicon Valley pressure cooker for small-town living, find a supportive community of friends, and settle somewhere quiet to work remotely. But the truth burned in my chest: I’d moved here to be near Cooper.
Cooper’s hand hovered over a cookie in the case, and he raised an eyebrow. Ryan nodded. Cooper handed the treat to Lily, whose eyes lit up as she grabbed it with a “Thanks!” She chomped into it, and chocolate crumbs clung to her lips. “Caramel latte?” he asked Ryan.
“Sounds good,” Ryan replied, then lowered his voice. The shop had nearly cleared out, but he still seemed to want privacy. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the shift in tone was instant.
Cooper’s relaxed posture stiffened. His smile remained, but it no longer reached his eyes. He busied himself making Ryan’s drink while Lily happily crunched on her cookie, oblivious to the tension between the adults.
I tried not to eavesdrop, but in the narrow confines of the coffee shop, snippets of conversation drifted my way.
“…birthday dinner next Friday…will be there, but it would mean a lot…”
“…haven’t changed, Ryan.”
