Unable to contain my excitement any longer, I leap forward and hug her. “Thank you, thank you! I was on my way to town to see if I could find a part-time job for the summer.”
She laughs and kisses my forehead. “I can’t wait to show you off to my friends.” She beams at me, looking at me with pride. “Go on, now. I’ll prepare the flowers and pack them in a box for you.”
I wave at her and head for the stairs that lead to the kitchen.
My mom told me that after Grandma retired as a nurse, she went back to college and took some courses for Senior Care. Now she works at Lily Rose Senior Day Care & Recreational Center once per week, every Thursday for two hours.
I park the car outside an old, quaint cafe directly opposite from my grandmother’s flower shop, Phoebe’s Enchanted Garden. I glance through my window to read the sign swinging gently in the summer breeze.
Spinners Book Emporium & Cafe.
I grin when Megs steps out through the glass door, a huge smile on her face. “You coming or what?”
I nod, grab my purse, jump out of the car, and then race toward the door.
“Holy crap! The heat around here is killing me. I kind of miss Ohio,” I tell Megs, hurrying up in an attempt to escape the heat. She grabs my hand and drags me inside the cafe. Cool air engulfs me immediately once we’re inside. I love the café’s fifties retro look: a jukebox at the corner, black and white tiles, red diner booth sets. Even the wait staff is wearing little frilly red and white checked aprons.
“The summers here are pure torture. Come on. I’ve been waiting for you! You need to taste this. It’s orgasmic.”
A chuckle reaches me from where I’m standing. Megs rolls her eyes and sighs dramatically, before turning to face the tall blond boy sauntering towards us, a little pink apron wrapped around his waist.
He runs his long fingers through his overgrown hair and flashes me a cocky grin. “It’s a talent. My hands have that kind of gift.”
“Such a large ego,” Megs says.
“The bigger the ego, the bigger the dick.” He winks.
Megs narrows her eyes and props her hands on her hips. “Been there. Tapped that. It’s not that impressive.”
Blond Boy smirks. “Two hours ago you were worshipping my dick reverently. Didn’t you say it’s God’s gift to womankind?”
She rolls her eyes again. “Just serve us our coffee, Mr. Frilly Apron, or I will write a bad review to Mr. Spinner.”
“I’m his James Bond. Secret weapon. He can’t afford to fire me.” He smirks. “And he’s my uncle. He wouldn’t fire his only nephew.”
He swaggers to the counter, leaps to the other side, then spins around and focuses those hazel eyes on me. His gaze momentarily wanders to my arms. They widen and he clears his throat before looking up at me. My stomach flutters nervously as I wait for his verdict. He’s Megs’ friend and I really want him to like me.
I hold my breath as an awkward tension fills our conversation.
He licks his lips. “Green eyes. Red hair. Pixie-tall. Um. Let me guess. Cole’s hot new neighbor?” He grins, and reaches up for two mugs from the little cupboard on the side and then narrows his eyes. “I’m still waiting for you to sprout little gossamer wings and fly. You do have wings, don’t you? And a pouch full of fairy dust?”
My breath rushes out of my mouth and I laugh. As much as I’m trying to be brave about working on this new me, I’m still terrified of being judged. Of rejection. “Be very careful, Blondie, or I might blind you with a dash of my glittery fairy dust.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Blondie? Of all the names out there, you chose Blondie?”
“Oh, what do you want me to call you?” I tease.
“Edwards,” he says in a deep voice. “Simon Edwards.” He slides a mug of coffee in front of me and another to Megs, and then stands back and stares at us expectantly. I love the faint taste of nutmeg and vanilla flavoring he added in the coffee.
“Good coffee, Edwards. Simon Edwards,” I say.
He grins. “I like you, Keds. Your boy is in there.” He points to the doorway that has a little board with the words “Book Nook” on the door.
“My boy?” I ask him, glancing down at my navy blue sneakers with little yellow and white hearts on them.
“Cole. Go ahead,” he says quietly. And with that, he turns to focus on the little ball of fire that is Megs.
“Oh, before you go, would you like to check out this amazing clothing store just a few blocks from here. They have discounts like all the time. You game?” Megs asks, tapping a finger on the side of her mug to the rhythm of the The Chiffon’s One Fine Day, playing on the jukebox.