Page 21 of Whole Latte Love

I can’t help but smile as I type my reply.

Theo: Progress. Really cruising along with my story.

Marie: That’s awesome!

Theo: Would you be free tomorrow? Afternoon walk along the beach after lunch? I need some sun. We can meet at the café at two.

The three little dots move and move on my screen but there’s no words. Finally, after a few minutes my phone dings.

Marie: That sounds nice. I’ll get Victor to cover my afternoon. See you then.

A walk along the beach is progress.

I have another slice of pizza, clean everything up, and get back to my laptop. I have a bunch of emails I need to sort through and see if any are important and need a reply before Monday. I’ve been getting included on a lot of the movie marketing information. There’s a lot of back and forth between workers that I don’t need to be involved in. I see an email from my publicist about book tour dates.

Jackson lists the dates and locations for the tour. He’s begging me to end my trip early. Apparently, there’s a few extra places we could add if I fly back after the fourth of July.

I feel like my insides are starting to twist together. Pulling and pushing things around. I feel restless, my thoughts racing at the different possibilities.

I could end my time in Kastle Harbor a few weeks early and get back to my life in Toronto. Leave everything behind, my time with Marie just a wonderful bundle of memories that I can carry anywhere I go. Or I could just eat the potential earnings from the book tour and stay my full time here in town.

I need some fresh air. I leave for a walk on the beach. The sun setting painting the sky a gorgeous array of reds and pinks. I try to run through all the different options.

I want to give Marie time. Maybe she’ll change her mind after we spend more time together. I could explain my idea about flying her out and covering travel costs. I’m sure she could easily hire another person and get some time off at the roastery. The bakery seemed to be doing well with hiring and training staff.

Or maybe I’d suggest her visiting me during the off season and I’d visit her during her busy months. I’m sure it’d be easier for a new person to run things while she’s gone. I know Victor is out of the country for a portion of the year, so they obviously have a slow part of the year.

The chilly evening air gives me goosebumps as I watch the sun set over the ocean. It’s peaceful here, a lot more peaceful than anywhere I’ve ever lived. I’m always surrounded by people, and it’s been so relaxing to just be here and have some privacy and solitude. The only thing better has been when I’m with Marie.

She’s smart, determined, compassionate, and witty. Not to mention stunning. Everything about us just feels right. Nothing like how my stomach feels. I don’t know if I could convince herto give us a shot. There’s perhaps a very small chance she’d agree to be a couple together.

Who am I kidding? She won’t change her mind.

Nothing like the cold ocean breeze to really clear my mind.

I trudge back to my rental and decide to email my publicist. I tell him my plans have changed and that because of the progress on my book I’d be happy to end my trip early. I lock in my dates and leave the rest of the trip planning to the morning.

Right now, I just want to lay in bed and sort things out when I have a good night’s sleep. I’ll tell Marie about my plans when we meet tomorrow.

If only wishing for a miracle could make it happen.

Marie

The roastery has kept me thoroughly busy during the day. However, at night and alone in my home, my thoughts are instantly brought back my love life.

Or lack thereof.

I’ve thought about texting Theo several times this past week. I’ve deep cleaned my home, went through my closet, even cleaned my oven. Anything to help keep my mind off the possibilities. But then Theo texted me and now I just want to see and spend time with him before he leaves. All these conflicting feelings are making me run through stomach medicine quicker than the busy holidays.

A Saturday stroll along the beach may help clear things up.

I walk to the café and run through what I want to say to Theo about the future of whatever this is between us. It does have an expiration date and he needs to be okay with it.

He’s standing outside the café, holding two coffees. His blond hair shining under the sun’s rays. His strong, muscular frame wrapped in a snug tee and swim trunks. I wouldn’t suspect he’s a writer who normally dresses like a tenured professor at a stuffy college. He looks like he just walked off a movie set where they’re spending days running on the beach. I feel my pulse quicken as I approach him. It’s like a tiny hummingbird has replaced my heart.

I wonder if he’ll ever stop affecting me this way.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d want one, but I got us both coffees.” His smile spreads.

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