6. Ivy
SIX
Ivy
I’m needed at Xaden’s in about an hour or so, but I need coffee before I do anything else. I slept terribly last night, and if I don’t imbibe caffeine at nearly heart-stopping levels, I’m going to fall asleep on my feet.
I drove into town in my POS car, which is as likely to kick the bucket as I am without a cold brew, but thankfully, I’ve made it to the local coffee shop without falling asleep behind the wheel.
And no, I will not be acknowledging why I couldn’t sleep, and it certainly had nothing to do with me freaking out over every car on the highway and creak of my new house.
It’s packed in here, with customers plopped into every chair and couch and a quaint little musician up in the corner playing acoustic guitar.
The songs are folky, with some renditions of pop culture classics mixed in, and the vibe in this place is spot on for autumn.
There are fake orange and yellow leaves strung up on garlands everywhere, and the smell of maple and pumpkin spice is so strong that my mouth is already watering.
To the left of the door is the counter, pressed up against a wall of dark wood and set a foot or so higher than the restaurant.
Three baristas scramble about behind it, each taking turns mixing drinks or taking orders. There’s even a full case of delectable-looking pastries to the right of the register.
Four people stand in line before me, and I’m not sure where we’re all going to sit, considering how many patrons are crammed in here.
There’s a bar with some stools along the front window that looks out over Main Street, but it’s only got four chairs.
Looks like I’ll be standing. Whatever.
Studying the menu, I wait until it’s my turn to order. There are almost too many options, but I settle on an old classic for me—pumpkin spice cold brew with a cream cap and an extra shot of maple syrup.
Hmm, yes. Need the coffee. Give me the magical bean juice.
As I step up to the counter, one of the baristas hands out a drink and then regards me with a smile.
“Hi, what can I get you?”
She looks about my age, and her name tag says, “Sam.”
“Hello, could I please do a pumpkin spice cold brew with a shot of maple in there, too?”
Her fingers move over the keys quickly as she punches in my order.
“Large?”
I nod. “Yup.”
“And is the whole milk okay?”
“Actually could I do a cream cap?” I smile nervously, knowing that it does take a few extra seconds to do that, and they are busy.
I know it’s not a big deal, but I’m always afraid of making someone’s life harder. I’m not here to make waves.
“Of course. I like it that way, too. I’ll have it right out. Name?”
“Oh, thank you. Umm, Ivy.”
She snags a plastic cup from the rack behind her and scribbles my name across the side. I pay and then take my place at the pick-up spot around the corner of the counter.
Even with how busy they are, it doesn’t take long for my drink to be ready, handmade by Sam herself, and she calls out my name.
“Thank you!” I call out as I take it, then spin around to try and snag a place by the window before I can’t even stand over there.
I don’t make it far, unfortunately, because I run smack dab into another patron throwing away their empty cup. On reflex, I yank myself backward as I squeeze my cold brew.
The delicious contents squirt out of the top as the lid pops off, and nearly the entire thing ends up on the floor.
“Oh, sorry.” The man who ran into me shrugs and wanders back off to his table as I’m left standing there in a bit of shock.
“Well, shit.”
Thankfully, I’m not covered in my drink, but I am still out my much-needed caffeine, and the floor is a disaster.
“Oh, no!”
I turn over my shoulder to see Sam standing there with a look of horror pinned to her face. Ducking my chin, embarrassed as all hell, I let out a rough exhale before tucking a fallen strand of hair behind my ear.
“I’m so sorry. If you want to bring me a mop, I’ll clean it up right away.”
Sam offers a sympathetic smile, shaking her head. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll bring out a sign, and we’ll get it cleaned up. Your drink is toast, though. Let me make you another one.”
My brows shoot to my hairline, and I step up closer to the counter, sure to dodge the spill so I don’t fall on my ass, too.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m the one who dropped it. I’ll just order another one.”
She regards me, her eyes briefly flicking over toward the guy who’s back at his table now, newspaper blocking his face.
Shaking her head, Sam leans forward and whispers down to me. “I saw the whole thing. He walked right into you. It was mostly an accident, except I know Deacon, and he’s a tool. So, don’t stress. I’ll just whip you up another one.”
I struggle to hide a laugh under my breath and nod as discreetly as I can. “You’re amazing. Thank you.”
“Totally. Go snag a spot at the window, and I’ll bring it out. I’m due for a break anyway.”
Thanking her profusely again, I step around my spill once more and go to the window to take the only remaining stool.
Sam is over in a flash, and just as she arrives, the woman sitting on the stool to my left gets up to leave. Taking her spot, Sam slides over the new drink with a grin.
“There. Safe and sound.”
Laughing, I accept it and finally take a sip of the coffee I’ve been looking forward to. “It really wasn’t all that guy’s fault. I’m not particularly graceful.”
“Eh, no worries. I’m happy to help.” Sam’s all smiles, her warm tan skin practically glowing, and she rakes her brown eyes over me. “So, not to sound like a pick-up line, but you aren’t from around here, are you?”
I can’t help the giggle, and I nod. “No, I’m not. I just moved into the old Miller house on the edge of town.”
“Oh, damn. I thought that place would never sell.”
“Yeah, I hear that a lot actually. Apparently, it was just waiting for a broke ex-city girl to come a-knocking.”
Sam laughs this time, and she eases back into the stool, getting more comfortable.
“Ex-city girl, huh? Which city we talking here?”
My pulse ticks up slightly. I’m not sure how many details I should give out since I’m technically here to be on the “down low.” Still, Sam’s charming, and even having known her for only a few minutes, it’s surprisingly easy to talk to her.
“New York. I’ve been in town for a few days now. Oh damn, almost a week of actually being settled in. Well, mostly. I still have several boxes to unpack.”
The metal rings as Sam puts her booted feet up on the bar beneath the window’s counter height table, and she grins.
For a split second, I take in her overall aesthetic, and I can’t help but smile.
She’s about five-foot-three, so even shorter than I am. Sam is curvy and bright, her loose, wavy brown curls tumbling over her shoulders as the top half is pinned back by one of those clips I can never figure out.
You’re supposed to gather your hair and then spear through it with the stick part but also put the stick through the two holes on either side of the main piece.
It’s beyond me.
She’s also wearing a warm cream shirt with tiny black dots all over it under a pair of distressed, faded black overalls, which are more gray than black.
Over the top, Sam’s wearing a deep, burnt orange cardigan that looks hand-knit and incredibly cozy. It’s beautiful against her tan skin, too. She’s got a septum ring, several ear piercings, a simple layer of what I’m guessing is chapstick on, and glasses with a thick black frame.
I like her.
“Ha, that’s a mood. It took me forever to actually unpack everything once I moved out of my mom’s place. Not that I went far, across Red Lodge is hardly halfway across the country. Did you like really want to be close to the mountains or something?”
I shrug, turning down the corners of my mouth as I sip at my coffee. “Oh, well, kind of. I wanted a change of pace. I’ve never really loved the big city. I loved my job and the kids there, but it was time for a change.”
Sam cocks a brow. “The kids? Are you a teacher?”
“No, not like at a school or anything. I worked for an inclusive daycare place. But it was very in-depth with the children, all about preschool and kindergarten preparedness.”
“Oh, sweet.” She nods. “I have three younger siblings, so I’m all good with hanging out with kids. I’ve done my time.”
I can’t help but laugh. I haven’t seen my sister, Jasmine, in a long while, and the thought stiffens me a bit as I try to push it aside.
“That’s a lot of kids, for sure. Are you guys still close?”
Scoffing, Sam nods with a grin. I can see her trying to play it off like she’s the cool big sister, but there’s a fondness behind her eyes that betrays how much she actually cares for her siblings.
“Well, considering that two of them live with me, yeah.” She chuckles. “My two sisters are my roommates, and my brother still lives at home.”
“Aww, that’s nice though. You have family who’s close. I envy that.”
Tilting her head at me, I take a moment to gulp down more of the cold brew as Sam’s eyes narrow.
“All on your own out here, huh? Yeah, that’s a bummer. I’ll admit that it’s nice to have a built-in support system ready to go.”
“See.” I take one more sip before setting down the cup. “And yeah, it’s just me. But at least I’ve got Daisy to brighten up the day.”
“Daisy?”
I nod, unable to keep the excited grin from my face. “Yeah, Daisy Ledger, Xaden Ledger’s little girl. I’m his new nanny.”
The relaxed happiness bleeds from Sam’s face, and she sits up straighter on her stool. “Xaden Ledger? Oh, shit. Well, be careful there.”
Frowning slightly, I lean in as Sam continues to make a face that’s very “ooh, watch out.”
“Careful? What do you mean?”
Nodding, Sam leans forward, lowering her voice. “Yeah, it’s not him. It’s his friend, Amy. She can be… intense when it comes to the people in Xaden’s life. They’ve been friends since, like, college, I think, and Amy has garnered herself a reputation for being a bit of a bitch, especially when it comes to other women.”
My mouth drops open slightly, and I think back to the people who’ve swung by the house a few times. There’s been no sign of this Amy person, and I’m immediately grateful that I now have the heads up.
“Oh, I didn’t know. He seems so…laid back for all that. What do you think that’s about?”
Sam tilts her head down, her brows going up as she sucks her cheeks in. “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but I think she’s got the hots for him. Which, come on, he’s gorgeous, so yeah. But I’m guessing Xaden just isn’t into her like that, and she’s miffed.”
“Jeez. Okay, well, I definitely appreciate the warning. I think I’ll be fine, though. I’m not seeing Xaden. I’m just taking care of his kid.”
Smiling, Sam nods in a tight line created by rolling her lips between her teeth. “I’m sure that’s true. But Amy came in here screaming one day about the last nanny, so…”
“Well, in her defense, that woman was stealing from Xaden, so I understand her frustration.”
“Sure, sure. I just don’t think that’s what she meant. Unless strumpet means something else.”
My eyes flare, and I swallow down the last of my coffee. “Oof, point taken. Well, thanks, Sam.”
She winks. “Any time, Ivy. And look at that we didn’t even have to do the awkward asking for names thing. I guess the tag and the cup have their perks.”
Laughing, I move to stand up when Sam holds out her hand.
“Here, hand me your phone and I’ll put my number in. I officially need friends who aren’t related to me, and I choose you, Pikachu.”
The Pokemon reference has me cracking up, and I give her my cell as I go to toss my empty cup in the trash, careful not to run into anyone again.
When I get back to the table, Sam hands me my phone, and I smile down at the one and only new number I’ve programmed into the thing in years.
“Thank you.” I feel my cheeks heat, that rush of somewhat embarrassed gratitude hitting me. “It was really nice to meet you, Sam.”
“Likewise, Ivy. We should definitely get drinks one of these nights. I’ll show you the only viable bars in town and tour you around Red Lodge. Ooh, and if you like horror movies next week is the October Movie Marathon for Halloween down at the local theater. And the drive-in does double feature horror nights every other week, including some great holiday-themed ones.”
I perk up, not necessarily for the horror flicks, but because Sam is already thinking about things to do with me next month.
It’s beyond nice.
“I would love that. Thanks again—for the friendship and the coffee. I was dragging ass this morning and certainly needed it.”
She chuckles. “Happy to help. If you’ll be needing coffee on the regular, be sure to swing by before eight. It’s way less crowded then.”
“Oh, note to self.”
Getting up from her stool, Sam stretches and walks back toward the register. “Well, I should get back there. See you tomorrow for another cold brew?”
I nod. “Probably. I’m out of coffee at the house, and this was way better.”
“Awesome. Catch you later, Ivy.”
She waves casually, and I return the gesture, heading out the front door, which jingles the little bell above it pleasantly.
I’m only a few steps away from the coffee shop when my phone buzzes, and I wonder if Sam has remembered something else she wants to show me in Red Lodge.
Actually excited, I pull my phone back out and swipe open the new text message, passing under an awning that provides enough shade from the cloudless sunny sky to read the screen.
Are you ignoring me?
The message comes through an unknown number, and I worry that I didn’t save Sam’s number. Still, I’m sure I did, and then I take a closer look at the digits in the phone number.
My stomach clenches as my heart rate skyrockets. Then my phone buzzes in my hand as two more messages come through back to back.
You can’t hide from me forever.
I will find you, Vivi.
And there goes the good mood I was enjoying.