Chapter Ten
“Morning, girlie. What can I get for you? Are you joining us for book club?” Esther greets me as I enter Emerald Roasters.
“Sure am. I’ll take an iced banana bread latte, please?” I pull out my wallet to pay.
“Oh no, sweetheart. Book Club doesn’t pay for coffee. It’s included in the cost of your book.” She waves me off, starting the espresso machine.
“Thank you. Is there a certain spot where you all sit?”
She points to the large circular booth in the corner by the big picture window that overlooks the water.
Taking my coffee from her, I head over and take my seat when Anna walks in next. Watching the two women interact so easily makes me wonder if I’ll ever feel comfortable living somewhere again. Will I always have to lie to everyone in my life?
“Sophia! I’m so glad you decided to join us. Is my son coming or working?” Anna sets her things on the table and slides in next to me.
“He’s working. But he sent me with a list of things to make sure we discuss.” I chuckle, pulling the paper out of my book, remembering how passionate he was about the romantic suspense.
“Of course he did. You know he used to send those to me when he couldn’t make it.” She raises a brow and stares at me. “Seems you two are getting close. The question is how close?”
“No. We’re just friends, we aren’t—”
She places her hand on mine on top of the table, stopping me. “Darling, I stopped by the other day to bring my son some pre-made food for his detail shifts. Let’s just say I know you two are a little closer than you want us to know about.”
My eyes widen. What did she see? What did she hear? Oh, God.
“I can see you trying to work it out. Don’t worry, I have no desire to see parts I shouldn’t see, so I hightailed it out of there before I could get in. But promise me one thing?”
“What?” I nearly choke out.
“Promise me you won’t give up on him. He’s a good boy, and he needs someone like you to spend his life with.”
I continue staring, and thankfully Emma and Violet walk over to the table, saving me from answering.
Anna Keaton knows that I’m getting dirty with her son, and she wants me to spend my life with him? She sees the man he is and not the man he portrays to everyone else. A man that I get the privilege to see.
But only as Giana.