Page 79 of Cream & Sugar
Anna gives me a long, hard look. “Seriously though, you can reallysing.No offence, but when you told me you were a musician, I didn’t think you’d actually be good!”
I shrug. “Thanks. I’m just relieved you’re not mad!”
“Mad?” Anna looks baffled. “No way! Did you see how packed it was in here? I don’t know if you noticed but people came in off the street to listen. Most of them bought something too!”
I’m starting to doubt if my head will fit out the door with all this ego-stroking. “Well, thanks. Just imagine what I can do with a proper instrument,” I say.
Anna’s brow knits, in deep thought. “I’ll speak to Shaun.”
“Why?” I ask.
“To see if you can play here sometimes, of course! I’ve been saying for weeks this place needs some more atmosphere. Plus, you’ve just proven it’s good for business so I don’t see how he can say no.”
She’s so matter of fact about it, but it feels too good to be true.
“You mean it? Like a singing waiter?”
“Sort of. Obviously, we’d still need you to do your normal job, but there's no reason why it couldn’t work. An hour, here and there.” Anna deposits the mugs she’s carrying into the dishwasher and picks up the tip jar. It rattles with coins and I even spot a couple of crumpled notes buried among the copper. “Plus, you made us a lot of tips. So yeah, I don’t see why not. Only if you want to, of course?”
I feel my face light up like the sun. “Are you kidding me? That sounds rad!”
I’m buzzing! Of all the things to come out of an afternoon’s babysitting, I didn’t think this would be one of them. A job and a regular gig spot under the same roof? Sign me up. Especially if the man of my dreams is watching. Though if Henry doesn’t fancy it, at least I’ll have Shaun.
An hour later, we finish closing down the café and make our way outside onto the pavement. While Anna locks up, I make Ethan promise he’ll keep practicing the keyboard in time for our next gig. As they walk off in the other direction, I hear him loudly demanding that Anna pay for him to have music lessons because he’s “in a band now and that’s more important than school.” Smart kid.
My bus turns onto the esplanade just as I reach the stop. I flag it down and buy a ticket using the generous tips my singing earned me today. Only once I’m hunkered down on the back seat do I pull out my phone and notice an unread message from Shaun. I read it and my heart flutters like a hummingbird. Dinner at his? Yes please.
Quickly, I fire off a reply:
Hey handsome! Wasn’t ghosting you, I promise. It was a fun shift. If the invitation is still open, I’ll happily tell you about it over dinner. Just on the bus home but I can be with you in an hour? x
The message delivers and, within seconds, Shaun starts typing a reply:
Absolutely! Want me to pick you up? X
Then, another:
You’re all I’ve thought about today, by the way.X
I have to read those nine words multiple times to check I’m not daydreaming. Every time I do, the hummingbird in my chest flaps harder.
I shoot back:
Pure thoughts, I hope? Sounds good! I’ll message you when I’m ready. See you soon, handsome. X
Dusk falls over the town as the bus trundles along. Smiling uncontrollably, I dig my ear buds from my jacket pocket and put on some music. As I tap my fingers to the beat, Shaun is all I can think about too. I thought he’d need more time to mull things over, but I guess an afternoon without me was too much for him to bear which, if true, is hot as hell. Normally I blow guys off the moment they get too attached, but with Shaun I’m right there with him. I’ve never had two dates in one day before, and definitely not with someone I like as much as him. Buzzing doesn’t begin to cover it. I can’t wait to kiss him again.
Check me out! A job, a small crowd of adoring fans, and a gorgeous man cooking me dinner.
Looks like everything really is coming up Freddie.
The bus drops me off around the corner from Cherry Street. I set a quick pace, the cold nipping at my heels, though my heart’s too warm to really feel it—the sooner I get home, the sooner I getto see Shaun.
As my house comes into view, I stop dead in my tracks. There’s a police car parked outside.
For a split second, I’m frozen in place, unable to process what I’m seeing. Then, I’m running, sprinting full pelt along the pavement like a whippet out of the block.
As I reach our drive, kicking up gravel as I go, the front door opens and I come face-to-face with Rory and an officer in uniform.
