Chapter 11 Callum
ELEVEN
Callum
Piper looked up from behind the counter, her blond hair escaping from its messy bun. “So you do still live in Hart County. I was starting to wonder.”
“Ha. Very funny.”
“Haven’t seen you since trivia night when the Lonely Harts club was all together. Where’ve you been hiding?”
“Just busy with work.” I rested my hands on the counter, perusing the chalkboard menu over Piper’s head.
Silver Linings Coffee occupied a cozy corner spot on Main Street, its large windows letting in streams of morning sunlight. The early rush had died down, leaving contented, busy customers scattered at tables with their laptops and books.
One side of the shop was lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with well-loved paperbacks, their spines creating a rainbow of faded colors. And on an opposite wall, a handmade quilt hung above overstuffed chairs, making the place even more cozy.
“Did Hearthstone’s coffeemaker finally give up the ghost?” Piper asked. “Is that why you’re here? Desperation?”
“No. I was longing to see you because I’ve missed you so much.”
Piper snorted, wiping down the steam wand. “Okay.” She drew the word out. “What’s the real reason? You hardly ever come in here for your caffeine fix.”
“I just wanted something different this morning.”
“Alright, lay it on me. What can I get you?”
I glanced at the menu again. “Your pistachio latte is totally dairy free, right?”
Piper narrowed her eyes at me. “Yes. I make the pistachio milk in-house.”
“How do you milk a pistachio?”
“Are you trolling me, Cal? April Fool’s was months ago.”
“This is serious business. I’ll take a pistachio latte. Medium.” I studied the pastry case next. “And these gluten-free cinnamon-sugar muffins. Is your kitchen allergy friendly? No cross-contamination?”
Piper laughed, the sound echoing off the exposed brick walls. A few curious customers looked up. “You have new food allergies I’ve never heard about in the thirty-ish years I’ve known you?”
“Hey, you don’t know everything about me, Piper. I’ve got layers. Always something new to discover.”
“Layers,” she repeated, shaking her head with a grin. “Right. Well, Mr. Mysterious, your gluten-free needs are covered. I run a tight ship here.” She started pulling shots for the latte, the machine’s rhythmic grinding adding to the quiet hum of conversation in the space.
Today, each of the small wooden tables was decorated with a jar holding a wild sunflower. And for some reason, that reminded me of Zandra. Maybe the way those flowers grew in tangles along all the highways, resilient and impossible to keep down.
Over the last couple weeks, since we’d shared that pint of ice cream, Zandra and I had been getting into a groove. Working together at the brewpub had been a process of give and take, both of us learning the ins and outs of the general manager position while sharing responsibilities.
We’d had hiccups with a few suppliers, inventory to double check, accounts to balance, orders to submit. Also fielding Manny’s nonstop texts asking for updates.
But it wasn’t just about understanding Hearthstone’s operations anymore. Zandra and I were getting to know each other, figuring out each other’s strengths and working styles.
Some days we clicked so well it felt effortless. Other days we butted heads over just about everything. Yet even our disagreements felt productive, like we were building something together. I liked to think so, anyway.
Once I got the general manager position, that solid foundation would only take me higher. Hopefully with Zandra sticking around, no hard feelings when I was her boss.
I was all about the optimism.
Last week, I’d brought almond and oat milk to add to the employee fridge at Hearthstone, and Zandra had been using it in her coffee. But I thought she’d like a fancy latte, and I’d noticed that Zandra was being super careful about spending money. So I figured I would treat her today.
But Piper was right that I hadn’t seen my family and friends much lately. Zandra and Hearthstone had been taking up not just my time, but my headspace.
“How’s Ollie doing with his summer league?” I asked.
“He’s killing it. Three home runs last week alone.” Pride radiated from her as she steamed the pistachio milk.
“Damn. Future in the major leagues.”
“He missed you at his last game. Next one’s Thursday evening.”
“And I’ll be there. Had a firefighter training at the same time as the last one, and work’s been crazy, but I’ll be there Thursday. Wouldn’t miss it.”
Piper was perpetually single and liked it that way, just like me. Though I blamed her terrible ex-husband for some of her cynicism about relationships, since she hadn’t been anti-love before. But Piper had plenty on her plate between running Silver Linings and raising nine-year-old Ollie.
“I really am sorry I missed his game,” I added. “Ollie’s my guy.”
She smiled, rolling her eyes a little. “You don’t have to be everything for everyone, Callum. I was just giving you a hard time earlier. Anything else?”
“Just a large black coffee. Those tongs didn’t touch the gluten stuff, did they?”
She was grabbing the muffins I’d ordered and placing them in paper bags. “Relax. I know what I’m doing.”
“Just making sure.”
Piper rang me up at the register. Then she asked casually, “So, how are things going with you and Zandra Alvarez? That’s who the pistachio latte is for, right?”
“What makes you think that?”
Piper sighed, leaning against the counter. “Because you think you’re subtle, Callum, but you’re really not.”
I scratched the stubble at my jaw, not really sure what she was implying. “Zandra’s doing great, actually.”
“She doesn’t hate you anymore?”
I glanced around to make sure nobody else was listening, because Manny’s spies were everywhere. He was barely mobile, but that didn’t matter with access to a phone and the internet.
“I’m deep in the process of winning her over.” I pointed at the latte and muffin. “As you can see. Practically got her wrapped around my finger.”
“Riiight. So this is all part of your plan to get the job?”
“Exactly.” I tapped my forehead. “It’s all tactics and strategies in here, Piper. I could’ve been a chess master.”
“Just don’t forget, while you’re working hard to charm her, that you’re in competition with this woman.”
“How could I possibly forget that?”
“Because you’re a people pleaser, Cal. Classic middle child.”
I scoffed. “That’s ridiculous. Layers, Piper. You might not know me as well as you think you do.”
“Okay. Sure. You’re an enigma of masculinity, and I couldn’t possibly understand all the complex things happening in that brain of yours.”
“Thank you for acknowledging that.”
“Aww, do you feel better?”
“Yeah, I do.”
She emptied the espresso grounds from the machine. “So you’re really serious about the general manager job.”
“Yep. Haven’t even picked up any women lately. This is what professionalism looks like.”
Piper’s eyes went wide. “Wait, you haven’t hooked up? With tourists at Hearthstone, or with anyone?”
I shrugged. “Anyone, I guess.”
“In how long?”
“Like…a week or two.”
I realized it was longer than that. I hadn’t hooked up with a single person since Zandra arrived back in town.
I hadn’t even looked at any of the tourists coming to the brewery. Which was weird.
“Two weeks?” Piper stared at me like I’d just announced I was joining a monastery. “You feeling okay? Should I check you for a fever?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I do say.” I tapped my payment card, grabbed the to-go bag and the coffees, and set off toward work.
People pleaser. Hardly. Just because people loved me didn’t mean I was always bending over backward to please them.
And I hadn’t forgotten for one second that Zandra and I were competing for the same job. Yes, I’d been doing nice things for her. For strategic reasons. Seeing her rare smiles was only a bonus.
Though I did like the idea of Zandra and me being friends. We could have both, right? Only one of us could get the general manager spot, but we should still be able to come out of it getting along.
Last week, when we’d spent that morning together at the market, Zandra’s vulnerability had been crystal clear. No wonder she’d stayed away from Silver Ridge so long when this place brought up only terrible memories. Didn’t sound like her parents had helped there.
At least she had her aunt Rosie, and even Manny, who was gruff on the surface but a softy underneath. A personality type I was well familiar with.
Yet I still felt like there was more that Zandra was holding back from me. Like there was more to what had happened back in high school than she’d shared. It had been weighing on my mind, even as I’d been focused on work.
And the lack of hookups… That was just my new resolution to act like the boss. I had to prove to everyone at Hearthstone that I was top management material. Not a slavering sex fiend, desperate to mount anything that moved. My right hand could help me deal with temporary celibacy.
Of course, any time I’d taken myself in hand lately for a stroke session, only one face had appeared in my mind.
Full rose-colored lips, long hair, angry dark eyes…
Just the thought of Zandra made my blood rush and my cock twitch with interest. Even if that particular hookup was never going to happen. It was still an energy rush every day that I got to see her.
This pistachio latte was going to earn me another smile. Today was going to be a great day. I could feel it in my bones—
Until I saw the crowd of people and the flashing lights of a police car down the block.
Right in front of Hearthstone.
I started jogging, trying not to spill the coffees. The closer I got, the clearer the scene became.
Bits of glass were strewn over the sidewalk, and one of our front windows was a web of cracks with a gaping hole in the middle. A uniformed officer was taking notes while gesturing at the damage.
I spotted Russ near the entrance and grabbed his arm. “What the hell happened?”
“Someone threw a brick through the window.” His words came fast, like he was hopped up on adrenaline. “I was here early around six. Was checking the fermentation tanks. Heard the glass breaking.”
“Did you see who did it?”
“Nah. By the time I made it outside, whoever did it was gone. But when Zandra got here, she flipped. Took off.”
“What do you mean, took off? Where is she?”