37. Caden
Caden
“What are you doing here? It’s Friday,” Fia asks, leaning on the counter as I walk into Good Grinds. It’s busy, the tables full of tourists, but there’s no line at the moment. And today, I have a real excuse to be here.
“I’m on my way to meet my fish guy, but I wanted to stop in and hang this.” I hold up a framed photo of the article Wilmington Life did on us.
Fia shakes her head. “First, I have so many questions, like what is a fish guy?” She nods towards the frame. “And I didn’t know that the article was published already.”
“A fish guy, like the guy I buy fish from,” I explain.
Fia tilts her head, apparently more confused.
“A friend with a boat.” I wave my hand in the air. “Never mind, but I’m making cod tomorrow.”
Halle, who’s making a drink beside Fia, flashes me an odd look.
Realizing what I said, I clear my throat. “And the magazine came out this morning. I had an appointment lined up to get the article framed.”
I eye the wall across from the barista station and place my tool kit on the table next to me. Fia comes up beside me, her arms crossed over her chest.
“You’re chatty today,” she muses.
I look her over, probably for too long—because all I want to do is wrap my arms around her shoulders, pull her into me, and kiss her deeply—but I keep it professional.
“I’m just excited for the article . . . and for the weekend,” I add, holding a nail between my lips while I decide where to hang the frame.
“Oh yeah, what’s going on this weekend? Any exciting plans?” Her voice is flirty.
“Going to have my girlfriend over tomorrow and cook out for her.” I glance out of the corner of my eye at Fia.
She bites back a smile and whispers, “Girlfriend?”
I hit the nail straight on the head—one straight shot into the wall. I smile, cocky.
“Yeah, girlfriend.” I make a show of raking my eyes up her body and Fia blushes.
Shit. I almost forgot where I was for a moment. Again.
“How’s this look from back there?” I call out gruffly.
Halle perks up.
“Good. It’s straight.” Then she comes around to join me and Fia. “That’s a cute photo.”
“Agreed.” Fia smiles.
I say nothing as I back up to look at it. The magazine chose to use a photo of Fia and me behind the espresso machine. She’s laughing, her head back, lips parted in a beautiful smile, and I’m looking at her.
Maybe I should care that someone might read into it and see the chemistry between us, make assumptions that we are together.
“I love it,” Fia says, staring at the photo.
My worry goes out the window. Fia loves it—that’s all that matters.
“Hey, slick,” Fia says the moment she steps into my kitchen, still in her clothes from earlier at the coffee shop, Daisy on her hip.
My hands are frozen as I load my freezer with fish.
“I know.” I shake my head, shutting the freezer door. “I need to stop coming into the shop when you’re there. It’s a problem.”
Fia comes over to the island, bouncing Daisy, who is swinging her stuffed giraffe.
“So can your girlfriend request something for tonight?”
I raise my brows. “Let’s hear it.”
She leans a hip on the marble counter, looking at home in my kitchen.
“First, can we have pizza? And second, can we end the night curled up on the sofa with a movie?”
“Oh shit, did I not mention that earlier?” I gesture towards the living room. “It’s a full-blown movie night with homemade pizza. But the thing is . . . my TV only streams war movies and documentaries.”
Fia scrunches her nose and looks at Daisy. “That’s so weird, because the TV in the guesthouse only streams romance movies!”
“Touché.”
My phone starts ringing, interrupting us. “It’s Eddie, let me get this.”
Fia nods and pads into the living room, setting Daisy down. I turn my back to her and answer the call.
“Hey, man.”
His crew’s talking in the background, and there’s loud beeping, maybe a truck backing up.
“Good news, boss!” Eddie’s voice cracks through the phone.
“What’s that?”
“We’ve finished the roof,” Eddie says excitedly.
I shake my head, recounting what day it is.
“You’re almost two weeks ahead of schedule,” I scoff. “How is that even possible?”
Eddie chuckles, the sound of a lighter flaring comes through the speaker. I can almost smell his Marlboro Reds.
“We started early today and got it done fast. We still have the caulking and painting inside, all the new drywall, and I’m assuming you’ll want the cleaning crew to come in, then we’ll move the furniture back. If all goes to plan, she can move back in next week. Should be good by Thursday.”
My mouth goes dry as I run my fingers through my hair.
I glance over my shoulder. Daisy’s climbing my sofa while Fia hovers behind her, arms outstretched. She shoots me a nervous smile.
“Uhm, no, that’s great news.” My tone is anything but enthusiastic. I try again. “Thanks.”
“House looks great. You did a nice thing,” Eddie adds.
Then why doesn’t it feel like it?
We hang up and I slide my phone back into my pocket.
“What’s up, what did he say?” Fia asks, eyes bright as she waits for my answer.
“Everything is good, right on schedule.”
Fia exhales. “Oh good, I can’t wait to see it.” She smiles and I have to look away.
I can’t return the smile as my chest tightens. By next weekend, Fia will be gone. The guesthouse will be empty, again.
I thought I had her for two more weeks, all to myself.
I’ll tell her the project is ahead of schedule and she can move out earlier than planned, but I’ll wait until the weekend is almost over.
On Sunday night, I’ll let her know the good news . . . She can go home soon.