Chapter 15 Gabriel
GAbrIEL
Monday
I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about my conversation with Lily or my whole last week with her. We would take one step forward but then two or three steps back. Part of it was that I didn’t want to get close to her. We also didn’t trust each other.
And yet, here I was at the café, ready for another week.
I’d developed somewhat of a routine in the short time I’d been in Golden Falls.
I helped Lily get the café ready, helped with the initial rush, got my own work done and answered any calls or meetings, and then helped her clean up for the day.
I was ready to do it all again as she brought on her new hire Tiffany, whose first day was today. She should be arriving any minute.
I’d already taken care of the cats for the morning and was standing at the counter, trying to power on the goddamn tablet.
I was getting more used to the very delicate pressure I had to use to tap the various buttons to take people’s orders.
Soon, my time in Golden Falls would mainly be used to help complete Lily’s list, so I wanted to use this next week at the café to build upon the handful of relationships with residents I was forming and to strike up more conversations with people, if they were willing.
Lily came out of the kitchen, bringing out a tray of chocolate crinkle cookies and a warm, sweet scent with her. I couldn’t tell if it was the cookies or her. I didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but…I was starting to second-guess it.
Lily organized the cookies on a glass platter, right next to the slices of chocolate peppermint loaf. Her menu this week, including the specialty drinks, was all about chocolate.
She carefully placed and adjusted each item, leaning back slightly to take a look from farther away. She tilted her head to the side, biting down on her lip as she focused.
I swallowed and turned back to the tablet, shaking my head slightly to get any thoughts of Lily out of my mind. But that was tough to do when her sweet scent was fucking everywhere.
“Gabe?”
“Yeah?” I asked, keeping my gaze focused on the tablet. When she didn’t respond right away, I looked over at her. She was facing me and looking down, fiddling with the hem of her apron.
“I, uh, I wanted to talk to you about something,” she stammered, trying to find the words. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it, and I wanted to clear things up.”
I stilled. “Is everything okay?” My brows drew together. I wanted to take a step toward her—but I used every ounce of restraint to stay right where I was.
“I just…I’ve been thinking about what you said. About how I’ve been acting entitled, and I wanted to apologize that it came off that way.”
Guilt twisted in my stomach. I remembered that conversation clearly. How our bickering about the building turned into me saying something I didn’t truly believe and regretted immediately.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I assured her.
“I want to. And I hope it helps you understand where I’m coming from.
” Lily rocked on the balls of her feet, her fingers now wrapped around the dainty charm on her necklace as she pulled it side to side.
“I don’t think I’m entitled to the building.
I know that it’s Hal’s choice, and I’m grateful he’s even considering selling to me.
I just saw this all going differently. I’ve talked about the building to him, and I thought he was going to sell to me.
I love Golden Falls, but I often feel underestimated in one way or another, whether it’s people in town still seeing me as a kid or me comparing my success to my siblings’.
I’ve always felt like I have something to prove, regardless of if that’s actually the case. ”
Lily’s words cut deep in my chest, and while our experiences were different, I understood having something to prove better than she likely realized.
“And I know we agreed not to get to know each other, but I needed to get that off my chest. I needed you to know that my issue is with the situation, not necessarily with you.” Lily’s gaze moved from the floor up to me, and her mouth tipped up.
“Although, I’m not crazy about you being here, the extra set of hands has been nice.
So, thank you. It means a lot that you’re showing up. ”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks for sharing that with me. I shouldn’t have said that to you, and that’s not how I see you.
” I leaned against the counter, my hands gripping the edge to keep myself propped up—and again to prevent myself from taking a step toward her.
“You’ve built something for yourself here, Lily.
Something that you’re proud of and that adds value to the community—not everyone can say that.
Try to remember that perspective next time you doubt yourself or feel like you have something to prove. ”
I let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over my face.
I knew I didn’t need to, but I wanted to share something in return.
I shifted my gaze from her to the floor, knowing if I kept my eyes on her, I’d hold back.
“Last week you asked me if I enjoyed working with my father,” I said.
“I don’t. Not even a little bit. My relationship with him is the most strained it’s ever been, and the more I think about it, I don’t think it ever was a normal relationship.
I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove myself to him, and it’s never enough. I don’t think it will ever be enough.”
Lily took a few steps forward, leaning her hip against the counter next to me. She was closer, but there was still distance between us.
I turned to the side to face her. “I’m not trying to take away what you’re going through, but I want you to know that I get it, in a way.
That I understand what it’s like to have to prove yourself.
But I also want you to understand how much you’ve accomplished.
I mean, look at this place.” I gestured at our surroundings. “Look at what you’ve created.”
Lily followed my movement, her eyes slowly taking it all in.
But when she turned back to me to speak, it wasn’t about the café.
“People in your life shouldn’t be making you feel that way.
I know that makes it sound like it’s simple—and I understand it’s not—but people in your life should be supporting you, not tearing you down. ”
“And I have those people, too.” My best friend Liam came to mind immediately. And…Hal. I wasn’t necessarily close with him, but I couldn’t deny that he’d supported me, even if I hadn’t realized until now how much.
But I knew what Lily was getting at. That it shouldn’t be my family—my parents—making me feel this way.
“What Hal said during our meeting, about your passions for sustainability and community development. That’s what you want to be working on?”
I nodded. “That’s what I thought I’d be working on when my father hired me. I’ve pitched countless ideas to him, but it’s never the right time or the right idea. Really, what he means is there’s not enough money involved. That’s what it’s always been about for him.”
It was the most open Lily and I had been with each other. The most open I’d been with someone new in a long time.
“He hired you knowing what you wanted to work on and hasn’t been letting you move forward with your ideas?” Lily asked, her brows knitting together. When I nodded, she said, “That’s…that’s so frustrating.”
I appreciated that she didn’t apologize for my situation, and that she acknowledged it for what it was. Although, hearing her say it out loud made me realize how fucking miserable it sounded.
“And you can’t leave?”
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging on the strands. “It’s complicated,” I settled on, not ready to get into specifics. But even without the details, Lily picked up on at least part of what I was grappling with.
“Yeah, I can see how. You’d have to step away from working with your dad and start over, I’m assuming. You shouldn’t have to be in a position where you have to do that if you don’t want to.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her how this building could turn my career around—or at least, how I thought it could—but I held back.
Maybe I’d tell her another time when it felt right, but I didn’t want it to seem like I had opened up to her to get her on my side on why I should own the building.
I opened up to her because I wanted to. Because it felt right.
We were still on opposing sides and wanted the same thing, but maybe spending time with each other would be smoother if we actually knew more about the other.
“I’m sorry, too,” I offered. “For calling you entitled. I regretted it as soon as I said it. And I’m also sorry that we didn’t have the best first impression.”
“It sure was something, wasn’t it?” The corner of her lips twitched.
“Well, it’s behind us now. We’re starting fresh…
as two people who have to get through a winter wish list?
” She tilted her head, her voice rising an octave with her words coming out more like a question.
“Whatever our situation is, it’s strange, but we’re making it work. ”
“Yeah, we are,” I agreed.
“Hey, I accidentally made an extra of these.”
I stopped typing at the sound of Lily’s voice and tore my attention away from my laptop screen as she set the mug in front of me. The café was quiet, with most customers having left for the day since Lily was about half an hour from closing.
“Would you like it? It’s a peppermint mocha, also known as a Peppermint Paws. Otherwise, I’ll likely have to dump it since we’re about to close for the day and I’ve already had enough caffeine.”
I lowered my laptop screen and eyed the drink. The mug was white and had a drawing of a cat surrounded by holiday lights with Merry Catmas in cursive writing. I couldn’t quite see the drink with the mountain of whipped cream.
“Peppermint Paws,” I said slowly, the corner of my lips twitching up, fighting a smile. “Did you poison it?”
She twisted her lips to the side to hide her smile. “I didn’t, but I’ll keep that in mind for next time. I can even take a sip of it to prove it to you.”
My lips quirked, and I gestured toward the cup. “Please. It’ll give me peace of mind.”
She rolled her eyes with a laugh, picking up the mug carefully so the liquid wouldn’t spill over the sides.
Lily brought the mug to her lips for a careful sip.
She set the mug back on the plate and pushed it toward me.
“See, delicious. Plus, poisoning you with coffee would be too obvious, since I’d be the first suspect. ”
I huffed. “You’re right. I’d be disappointed, too. I’d expect something more creative from you. Oh, you have”—I gestured toward her mouth and reached over to grab a napkin—“whipped cream on your lip.”
Her tongue darted out to catch it, and I stifled a laugh as she failed.
“Hold still,” I murmured as I stood from my seat. With one hand holding the napkin, I wiped the bit of whipped cream off her lip. My other hand likely should’ve stayed at my side, but…I cupped the side of her face, my fingers ever so slightly in her hair.
We were close, too close.
I wanted to search her face, get lost in her bright-blue eyes, stare at her strawberry lips, or the delicate slope of her nose. But I couldn’t. Because if I looked…I didn’t think I’d be able to look away.
“Thanks,” she said breathlessly.
I cleared my throat and stepped back, knocking into the table and nearly spilling the drink over. I reached out to still the wobbling surface. “Yeah, no problem.”
“I’ll go ahead and toss this for you.” She grabbed the napkin from my hand, her fingertips gently grazing mine. “I’ll, uh, likely stay behind a little longer to clean up, so feel free to leave once you’re done. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
I nodded. “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”
I sat back at the table, wanting to finish up the email I’d been writing, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her as she moved around the café. It was only when she’d made her way to the kitchen that I looked back at my screen.
I wasn’t much of a sweets guy, especially when it came to drinks, but how could I say no? Plus, it was one drink. I picked up the mug, inhaling the smell of chocolate and peppermint. I took a sip from the spot where her lips had been and hummed in approval.
Delicious, warm, and sweet. The perfect temperature, too.
As I sipped on the drink and the sweetness hit my tongue, the only thing I could think of was the bright-eyed blonde in the other room who likely tasted sweeter than anything in this café.