Limitless Love: A Polyamorous Charity Anthology

1. Graham

Waking up to what sounds like a herd of elephants about to crash onto your head is what everyone wants to do. Especially on their birthday. It’s going to be a long day, I can already feel it.

Sighing, I scrub the sleep from my eyes and fling the covers back. Rough carpet meets my bare feet and I shiver against the cold air. Even sleeping in a long-sleeve shirt and sweats does little to protect me from how fucking cold the basement gets.

At least the water sitting on the nightstand stays nice and cold and easy to swallow. Picking my socks up off the floor, I put them on before I finally get up and stretch. More banging comes from upstairs and I glare at the ceiling. What could they possibly be doing up there so early in the morning?

Pulling back the curtain that closes off my little corner of the basement, I head for the stairs, annoyed—like I am every morning—that there’s no bathroom down here. When I open the door at the top of the stairs, a wall of noise hits me. I wince and gingerly step into the kitchen, hoping I can make it to the bathroom before anyone notices me.

“Uncle Graham!” My sister’s middle child yells my name like we’re not all in the same room.

Michael runs up to me, and I brush my fingers through his hair as he hugs me. “Morning, buddy.”

He smiles up at me. “We’re going to the library after school today! Mama says I can get four books!”

“That’s great, I hope you have lots of?—”

“Graham!” my mother yells, from her spot at the stove. “Stop distracting him. Go finish your food, Michael. I don’t want to be running behind again.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Michael gives me one last hug and darts back to the table where his brother and sister are both eating.

Crossing the room, I kiss my mother on the cheek. “Morning, Mama.”

She moves away from me. “Good morning. I’m almost done with your food so go sit down.”

“I’ll be there in a second, I just need to use the restroom.”

“Well, hurry up. I still got to get the kids ready for school.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I try not to let my disappointment leak into my tone as I answer.

Don’t think about it, Graham, I scold myself as I leave the kitchen and enter the hall bathroom.

Don’t think about it.

I splash water on my face and look into the mirror at my dull green eyes. The hope I felt inside when I woke up doesn’t reflect on the outside, which is good. It means the disappointment that I know is going to crash over me by the end of the day won’t show through either.

“Graham!” Mama’s shrill voice makes me wince.

Quickly, I open the bathroom door and call back, “Coming!”

I turn the light off and shut the door, leaving all my wishful thinking inside the small room. It’ll make it easier to get through the day.

* * *

The walkand bus ride to the coffee shop I’ve worked at for the past year and a half is a cold one, but at least it’s not raining. My earlier feelings settle on the way to work, and I lock the disappointment into the already overflowing box of other disappointments.

The bell jingles merrily when I push open the door, and I scan the room. Almost all of my coworkers fill the space, but I don’t see any new faces, so some of the tension I’ve been carrying eases. I need to keep this job. It wouldn’t do to show up late to the first meeting with the new owner.

“Hey, Graham,” my store manager, Callie, says from her spot near the counter.

I make my way over. “Morning. New owner isn’t here yet?”

Callie shakes her head. “Nope. Which doesn’t bode well for how this transition is going to go. Mrs. Lewis got here when I did, though; she’s getting the last of her things out of the office.”

“Are you worried?” I ask.

“Not really. Unless the new owner decides to shut down completely, I know my job is secure. I can’t imagine them closing the place though, since they kept it open the entire time the sale was going through.”

“Yeah.” I wish I could be as confident as Callie, but unfortunately, I’m just another barista—one of the least-experienced here. Easily replaceable.

The last two stragglers on staff wander in, and Mrs. Lewis comes out of the office with a box. “Well,” she says as she sets the box down. “This is it. I hope you all know how amazing you are and that I’ve enjoyed working with you. Sad to say goodbye to this place, but it’s time to move on. I was never supposed to run it this long.”

We all nod in understanding. Everyone knows the story. Mrs. Lewis inherited the coffee shop over ten years ago from her brother, and even though she knew nothing about running a business, she threw herself into it because it was his dream.

I don’t blame her for being ready to move on now, though I’ll admit I was devastated when she announced the upcoming sale. Worry for my job has plagued me every day for months. This place is the only one that took a chance on me. It’s given me a sense of freedom I wouldn’t have otherwise, especially considering the chaos my family has been thrown into since my sister and her kids moved back home.

I hope like hell the new owner doesn’t decide to completely change everything, including the staff.

The bell on the door sounds, and everyone looks over as a man walks through. He’s wearing dark jeans and a black peacoat that stretches nicely along his broad shoulders. I suck in a breath as he smiles and walks over.

Mrs. Lewis pushes away from the counter and walks over to shake his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Wallace.”

“Eric, please,” he replies.

“Well, Eric, you have a great bunch of people here. Do you want me to stick around?”

Eric—Mr. Wallace—smiles at Mrs. Lewis, and damn my beating heart. Of all the days for me to notice someone’s sex appeal, it has to be today, and for this man.

“If you have nothing planned. I think this would go smoother if people didn’t feel I was coming in and taking over.” He laughs a little. “Yes, I know that’s what I’m doing, but you know what I mean.”

“I do.” Mrs. Lewis steps back and turns to Callie and me. “Well, how about we do some introductions? This is Callie. She’s currently the store manager, so is in the best position to answer all your questions. And this is Graham.”

“Nice to meet you.” I hope my voice isn’t as shaky as it sounds to my ears. When Mr. Wallace takes my hand in his, I have to force myself not to gasp. His hand is much bigger than mine, and warm, and there’s a flutter in my gut because I want to feel those hands all over me. And it’s been a long, long time since I’ve wanted that.

Mr. Wallace smiles at me, and it’s…different than the one he gave to both Callie and Mrs. Lewis—sweeter. Which is a ridiculous thing to think, but apparently today is the type of day where my brain comes up with all kinds of stupid things.

Mrs. Lewis takes Mr. Wallace around, introducing him to everyone, and once finished, she comes back to lean against the counter next to where I’m standing. Mr. Wallace stands in the middle of the floor where everyone can see him.

“Good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking time out of your morning to meet with me. I’m Eric Wallace. I’m not big on formalities, so you can just call me Eric. I’ll admit this is a new venture for me. I have my hands in a lot of pots, and ‘coffee shop’ is a new one. However, I think we can help each other.” I tune out most of what he says. It’s not his words I’m listening to, but the cadence of his voice, how there’s a slight accent on certain words.

Callie steps forward and I realize Mr. Wallace has finished speaking. “So, you’ll be keeping the business going then?”

He smiles at her. “Yes. I do plan on making some changes, so if anyone has any suggestions, please, share them. I don’t want this to be a place that gets overlooked because certain chain coffee shops think they do it better, but I need y’all’s help. You’re the ones working here day in and day out. It’ll be a joint effort—your ideas and hard work paired with mine. We’ll make this a place people want to come for their daily cup of coffee.”

“But you’re not making any changes with the staffing?” Callie asks.

Mr. Wallace loses his smile, and my heart sinks at the serious expression that crosses his face. “No. Like I said, y’all are the ones working here day in and day out. I want to observe you for a few days, starting today, to see where I can help improve things and what changes to implement first.” He looks around at everyone before asking, “Any questions?”

A few people speak up, but I lean against the counter and try to get my heart rate under control. The thought that this little coffee shop could have been taken away scared me. It’s not much, but it’s the only thing I have going for me right now—which honestly makes me sound pathetic as fuck.

The meeting wraps up, and everyone, except those of us who are slated to work, say their final goodbyes to Mrs. Lewis and begin trickling out.

Thankfully, Mr. Wallace decided to operate as normal today. I really don’t know what I would do with myself if I had to be home, today of all days. Working is much more preferable to sitting around being judged for things I can’t change about myself and wouldn’t want to anyway.

Mrs. Lewis surprises me by giving my arm a squeeze. “It was wonderful working with you, Graham.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lewis, for the opportunity.”

“It’s your birthday, isn’t it?”

I give her a small smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, I hope you have a wonderful day.”

“Thank you.”

She picks up her box, takes one last look around, and then leaves.

Callie knocks her shoulder against mine. “Birthday, huh?”

I shrug, even though I know I mentioned it the other day when we were talking about star signs with another coworker. And isn’t that another disappointment on top of a morning full of them? Enough to cancel out whatever good feelings I got from Mrs. Lewis remembering.

“Yep, the big one-nine.”

Callie makes a disgusted noise. “You’re such a baby.”

I try to laugh it off, but the condescending tone of her words makes me bristle.

* * *

Thankfully,the day passes quickly. We get the usual rush in the afternoon, but for the most part, it’s a typical day. I am, however, hyperaware of Mr. Wallace walking around, talking to the customers, observing us as we work.

In the first hour, I made more mistakes than I did when I first started, and I hate that I let his presence get to me.

Callie runs him through how to cash out the register while another coworker and I clean the floor.

When we’re all finished, I truck to the back and grab my backpack, pulling out my phone as I shove my hat on my head. My heart sinks when I see the text from my sister.

MEGAN

Can’t pick you up today.

Normally, it wouldn’t be a big deal. Except the buses stopped running twenty minutes ago, and it’s fucking raining now, which means I get to walk home while trying not to get either kidnapped or run over. Should be all kinds of fun.

Sighing, I drop my phone into my jacket pocket, zip up my backpack, and sling it over my shoulders.

“You have any plans for your birthday, Graham?” Callie asks, as she locks the door behind us.

“Sleep. My sister’s kids woke me up before my alarm this morning.”

“I can’t remember what sleep is. These damn papers are killing me, and I still have two more to write. See ya later,“ our coworker Jem says before jogging to their car.

“It was nice working with you both today,” Mr. Wallace says. “I look forward to discussing your ideas further, Callie.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Have a good night. And happy birthday, Graham.”

“Thank you, sir. Have a nice night.”

He smiles that fucking sweet smile again. “Eric, please.”

With that, he strides into the rain, and I do not watch him walk away.

“See ya tomorrow, G.”

I wince at the hated nickname and raise a hand as Callie walks to her car. With a breath, I raise my hood and walk from under the awning, out into the cold-as-dick rain.