Chapter 2
Jax
I was so happy to see Betty walk through the back door of the cafe.
After two weeks of practically running the place, I was excited to have a little bit of a break.
Although, I guess it was for the best that I got used to being in charge since I was more than ready to take over if Betty offered me the opportunity.
I was pretty confident it was coming, otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be working there anymore.
I loved Serenity Sips, but I was ready to move on to something bigger.
I was recently promoted to assistant manager, but even that didn’t seem big enough for the dreams I had.
I wanted something of my own. I wanted my face to light up in the same way Carter’s Uncle Ethan’s did when he talked about his cafe.
I wouldn’t even know where to begin if I had to start from scratch, but luckily, Betty was throwing pretty big hints that this place was mine once she was done—the biggest one being that she actually asked me if I would ever consider buying it from her.
It had been almost six months since she asked and she hadn’t brought it up again, but I had to hope my enthusiastic yes, along with all of my extra hours, was enough to show her how serious I was.
Following closely behind Betty was a young blonde girl who appeared to be fresh out of college (if she was even that old). I almost missed her as she had herself hidden behind Betty. I honestly couldn’t tell if that was on purpose or not.
“What’s new, Betty Lou?” I put my hand up for a high-five that Betty reluctantly accepted.
“Always happy to see you, Jax,” Betty said with a small smile, which is honestly the most I ever got from her. She looked around. “I’m glad to see this place didn’t burn down in my absence.”
I shook my head, put my hands on my hips, and stood a little taller. I couldn’t lie. I was proud of everything I had accomplished here. “Still standing and better than ever.”
Betty nodded. “I’d expect nothing less.” She looked around and moved her mouth slightly as if she was counting something in her head.
“I need you and whoever the shift manager is that’s with you right now to come with me.
I have some news that I’d like to share with you first, and then I’ll share it with the rest of the team while you two keep the front end in order, if that’s okay. ”
News? Was this it? It had to be, right? I was already running through the words I was going to say to Carter when I called to give her the news.
I was pretty sure we both knew this was coming, even though I hadn’t even told her about Betty asking if I was willing to buy.
Carter was so driven and accomplished and the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint her.
“Of course.” I motioned toward the back of the cafe. “After you.”
As I walked behind Betty and the young blonde, Cammie, the shift manager, sidled up beside me. “Do you think this is the announcement?” she whispered. “Do you think Betty the Bitch is finally retiring?”
Even though I tried my best not to, I smiled at her nickname for Betty.
It was no secret that a lot of my coworkers didn’t like her, especially the younger ones, but I always worked to stay on Betty’s good side, and because of that, she was much nicer to me than everyone else who worked at the cafe.
“I don’t know. Maybe.” I was proud of myself for how calm I sounded when my heart was practically beating out of my chest and my armpits were sweating like a Republican at a drag show.
“I hope so.” Cammie elbowed me in the side. “You’ll be a much better boss.”
Good to know I’m not the only one who is expecting Betty to pass the company to me.
“Moment of truth,” I whispered as we all gathered in her office, mysterious blonde girl included.
Betty gave us her signature tight-lipped smile. “No need to beat around the bush. I brought you two in here to let you know that I’m retiring at the end of the month.”
There it is.
“Oh no, really?” Cammie asked, not even attempting to mask her sarcasm. “And who will be taking your place?”
My stomach did flips while I awaited Betty’s answer. Much to my surprise, she reached out and patted the young girl standing beside her on the back. “I’m very proud to announce that my niece, Ailany, will be taking over the family business.”
Family business? Betty said those words as if this had been the plan the whole time; as if this girl had ever even stepped foot into the cafe, which I was pretty sure she hadn’t.
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I could hear it in my ears.
I wanted to say something, but I was worried I’d end up shouting.
Normally, I was so good at keeping my cool, but this is what I had been working toward for years.
This is what all of those extra hours were for. Just like that… gone.
The sound of Cammie snorting beside me brought me back to the moment. “You’re kidding, right?” Cammie asked with a laugh. “She’s younger than me. What does she know about running a business?”
Betty turned her eyebrows in at Cammie. “I’ll have you know, she just graduated Cum Laude with a BA in business from Ohio State University.”
“Well, color me impressed,” Cammie said sarcastically, repeating a phrase that Betty often used non-ironically. She turned her focus from Betty to Ailany, who honestly looked like she might throw up. “What happened to the Summa part of that? Did it drown in your beer?”
“Cammie!” Betty said sternly. “I suggest you return to the front if you want to keep your job.”
“Yes, sir!” Cammie saluted Betty and walked out the door, leaving a silent room.
I hated awkward silences, so I reached my hand out toward Ailany. “It’s very nice to meet you. Do you live around here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”
Ailany shook her head, but refused to look me in the eyes. “I’m from Ohio. I grew up in a small town about an hour from Ohio State. This is actually, um, the first time I’ve ever been in New York City.”
Fucking hell. I prided myself at always keeping a pretty even temper.
It took a lot to make me angry, and I was pretty sure I hadn’t raised my voice at someone since some douchey frat guy tried to hook up with a very drunk Olivia in college.
But, at that moment, I actually understood what people meant when they talked about their blood boiling.
My body was so hot that I was pretty sure if someone touched me, they would get burned.
Why would Betty do this? Why act like she was going to pass the business on to me if that wasn’t the plan? Why wouldn’t she at least talk to me about this alone? She had to know I wouldn’t be expecting this.
“Wow. Pretty big change from Ohio, huh?” I rubbed the back of my neck and laughed. I had to keep my cool. I had no other choice. Luckily, I was a pretty decent bullshitter, so it wasn’t a problem for me.
Ailany let out the softest noise that sounded like it might have been a giggle. “You could say that.”
“I take it you're moving to New York?”
Ailany kept her eyes toward the ground and nodded. I waited for her to say more, but it was Betty who spoke instead. “She will be living with me.”
“Great.” I forced a wide grin onto my face. “Well, it’s very nice to meet you and I’m excited to get to know you better, Ailany.” I pointed my thumb toward the door. “I better get back out there so I can take over for you to share the good news with everyone else.”
I turned around and was about to open the door when Betty spoke again. “Jax, wait.”
I turned back around slowly, forcing my wide grin once again. “What’s up, boss?”
“I’m hoping you can be Ailany’s right hand man. Any final decision making is obviously in her hands, but you know all about this cafe and our customers. I hope you’ll help her to find her way around here.”
Betty’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and I could tell she was holding back what she really wanted to say. Perhaps an apology? Maybe an explanation? I waited, but it never came, so I nodded in response to her request. “Of course. Anything I can do to help. As always.”
This time she let me leave, and the rest of the day, I felt as if I was in a fog.
I tried my best to be my normal, chipper self since I knew that’s what our regulars counted on, but it was hard.
It was especially hard after everyone heard the news and they all tried to ask me how I felt about it.
I smiled through gritted teeth and told them I thought it was great, because what else was I supposed to say?
I prided myself on being the one who always kept the morale up at work, and I’d be damned if I stopped now.
By the time work was over, I was completely exhausted.
I couldn’t wait to get home to Carter and talk to her about what had happened.
While I still worried about disappointing her, I knew, in reality, I never could.
Carter was my biggest fan and my greatest supporter. She’d be proud of me no matter what.
My legs dragged on my walk home. Even though I wanted to get there, I couldn’t get myself to move any faster. After riding the elevator to our floor, I took a deep breath before opening the door to our apartment. I plastered on a smile even though I knew Carter would see right through it.
I expected to see Carter sitting on the couch with Speck, but much to my surprise, neither of them were there.
“Sweetie? Are you home?” I walked the short distance to our bedroom and opened the door.
Much to my surprise, Carter was lying on the bed, snuggled up close to Speck. It was very unlike her. The only time I saw this woman relax was when I forced her to or after being exhausted from sex.
“Carter? Are you okay?” I asked softly.
When she rolled over to look at me, I immediately saw bloodshot eyes and tears running down her cheeks. I ran to the bed and knelt down beside it, my blow from work completely forgotten. “Oh, baby, what’s wrong?” I asked as I ran my hand through her hair.