There抯 another experience I wouldn抰 have had without Cole.
When will I work with peaberry beans again? I might as well go for broke and use them while they抮e here.
The brew gives off a delicate, wonderful aroma from the start. It抯 sweet, almost like a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies.
I keep inhaling because it actually makes me feel better.
Until my phone pings.
For half a second, I hope it抯 Cole before I remember I shouldn抰.
And it抯 not.
So much for the shrewd businessman who won抰 take no for an answer. It only took him a few days to give up on me.
It抯 actually my father. I open Dad抯 text and smile.
Can抰 wait to have you home. How about I make you all the coffee this time? It抯 only fair.
A tear runs down my cheek and falls on my shaky smile. He hasn抰 forgotten all the years I spent making him coffee after the salt prank.
You know what? This won抰 be so bad.
I抳e always found comfort and healing in good coffee and family. That抯 where happiness lies.
I spent so much time with Cole and this fairy-tale lie that I lost track of that.
Now, it抯 time to reclaim my life.
It抯 after five on a Friday night, so people start straggling out, calling their goodbyes and heading off on their weekend adventures.
My goodbye brew is almost ready, and then it抯 curtain call.
I still have to clean up and send my resignation, too.
Gina hugs me on her way out. 揑t抯 been a good run. I just wish it would抳e been longer. Not to be a pest, but are you sure I can抰 talk you out of this??
I smile at her. 揑抦 sure. Thanks for everything.?
揘o, thank you for everything you抳e done. Stick around as long as you want, but don抰 miss your flight. It抯 supposed to be a stormy night.?
She抯 the last one out.
When I抦 alone, I glance around this amazing lab, trying not to linger and trip any new emotional switches.
Ten minutes later, I kill the burner under the coffee and let it sit while I clear out my desk.
Once that抯 done, I ladle my steaming black liquid into a cup and take a sip.
Oh, mama.
It tastes like one of those old-school 搕wist?ice cream cones. Half chocolate, half vanilla, with a hint of coffee.
But instead of being frozen, it抯 warm and comforting and exactly what my heart needs.
I fill my thermos and dump the rest, clean up, and then prepare for the highlight of my day.
The end of this screwed up chapter of my life.
I plop down in my desk chair for the last time and wake my computer, then log in to my email and type in Cole抯 name and CC the entire world.
Mr. Lancaster,
I have coffee, comfort, and the best family anyone could ask for. That抯 all I抳e decided I need in life. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to several important regional beverage lines that will hopefully delight your customers for years to come.
My resignation is effective immediately. I have a flight to San Diego tonight, and I抣l no longer be checking my work email or messages after I sign off for today.
Goodbye.
Sincerely,
Eliza Angelo
Done.
I log off and leave my ID badge on the keyboard.
It doesn抰 hit me until I stand up and stretch for the last time.
Leaving this place is harder than I expected.
This lab has all the stuff coffee dreams are made of, and now I抦 saying goodbye.
I cleaned up well after that last batch, but I grab a few towels and wipe down the counters again anyway for good measure.
Bad move.
A million memories flood my head like swarming bees.
Destiny抯 adorably awkward baby seal impressions. Her freaking out over turtles and dolphins and her eyes shining so bright the first time she was back on the beach after I showed her how to surf.
She抯 too sweet for life. I抣l miss experiencing the world through her young eyes.
And then the obvious, everything good and bad and impossible to forget.
Cole.
His wildfire kisses.
Those searing nights in paradise that permanently stole a piece of my heart.
Cole leaning over me, tangled in his huge arms, a rough growl on his lips as he pushes his way inside me.
Cole grumping at everyone but me.
Cole telling me he loves me in the worst way possible梐nd then robbing me of the chance to hear it, to see it on his face.
God.
Our stillborn love darts across my mind like a violent racquetball.
Memories I wish like hell I could forget, but can抰.
The sweetest memories turned sickeningly bitter.
I shake my head, pressing a palm to my mouth.
If only he抎 been honest from the start, he would抳e spared us both some agony.
But I still hope our brief time together did them some good.
I抣l never completely regret it if the trip to Kona took the edge off old tragedies. For Destiny, at least, that seems to be true.
After I grab my suitcase, I head upstairs and out the door梤ight into a frigid rain and a growling sky.
揧ikes!?I sputter, slinking back against the wall.
The downpour floods the gutters and drowns out the world, drenching everything in sight. The street isn抰 full of puddles梚t抯 a freaking river.
揥ay to go,?I mutter, pulling out my phone for the forecast I should抳e checked hours ago.
How could I forget what Gina said?
I barely read the words heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, three hours before my hair starts falling down my face in wet, clumped strands.
I race back toward the exit door and pull, but of course it抯 firmly locked. And in all my infinite wisdom, I left my badge inside, thinking I抎 never need it again.
Brilliant.
There抯 a bus shelter on the curb, just a quick jog across the parking lot.
I think. In this mess, it feels like it抯 ten blocks away.
I can抰 see it clearly in the pounding rain and hazy darkness, but I know it抯 there.
With a deep, exasperated breath, I take off at a ground-eating run, dragging my luggage behind me.
I抦 not sure how any Lyft driver sees me through this storm. I haven抰 even had a second in this mess to order a ride yet.
Not that it matters.
I抦 an ugly, drowned rat before I抦 even close to the bus shelter.
With my footsteps splashing water up my legs, I finally hit the sidewalk, just a few more mad paces from that stupid shelter.
Then a car whips past, stops, and backs up next to the curb. The passenger window powers down.
揥ho invited the whole ocean into town? You need a ride??a familiar voice asks. I see Troy Clement抯 leathery grinning face and let out a huge sigh of relief.
I grab the passenger door handle and hop in. He turns on his flashers while he stalks outside to grab my bag and stuffs it in his trunk.
揙h my God. Thank you so much!?I gush once he抯 back behind the wheel. 揟oday has been a crap sundae and this is just the cherry on top.?
揧eah, I saw your email. You okay, Miss E-lectric??His sharp silvery eyes shine with concern.
I wince a little without showing it, shivering in the sudden blast of AC. But hearing him mention my resignation also plays on my nerves.
I didn抰 expect to have to answer to anyone face-to-face after sending that email.
Water drips off my hair and nose as I tilt the vents away from me.
揧eah. Yeah, I抦 fine,?I finally say.
揌ere.?He puts his heater on full blast, which helps with the soggy chill. I just wish he wasn抰 giving me that hangdog look dripping with sympathy. 揥hat happened, lady? I hate like hell to see you go. You just taught that old hound dog some new tricks with those killer fucking drinks. I really thought you had a future with Wired Cup梐nd with Cole. Hell, I thought you were the future.?
I cringe, heat rushing to my face.
揑 just...my mind is made up, Troy. It抯 personal, but thank you,?I say.
He presses his lips together as the car starts moving. 揝orry. So there抯 no talking you out of it, huh??
I shake my head vigorously.