Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Faye
Six Weeks Later
“Happy birthday!” Honey says when I walk into the coffee shop with Owen. I’m turning twenty-seven today and Owen insisted we both take the day off to celebrate.
“Thank you,” I say, giving out hugs to Honey, Isaac, and Darla (who is now happily dating the contractor she had a huge crush on).
It’s a Thursday morning, so we’re meeting Ethan and Monica here before our rock climbing class. Unsurprisingly, I’m terrible at it. Much worse than I had feared. Clinging to the wall and screaming is a weekly occurrence. My upper body strength has still not improved. I can’t wait until it’s over.
That’s the thing about leaving comfort zones. It’s incredibly uncomfortable.
But worth it. Monica and I have gotten much closer. So has Owen and Ethan. Owen is a natural at the sport—of course he is—and almost immediately started climbing with Ethan and his friends. He’s one of the best in the group.
Meanwhile, Monica and I hang out near the bottom, trying to figure out our straps and ropes, chatting about all sorts of things while we run out the clock.
“What can I get you, guys?” Honey asks with a big smile. “Birthday drinks are on the house.”
“I’ll take a vanilla latte,” I say.
I look at Owen. He tilts his head and gives me that puppy dog look—the one that Newton gives me when he’s desperate for a walk.
“Fine,” I say with a groan as I duck under the counter and grab my apron. It’s my birthday, but I really don’t mind. I’ve always loved making Owen his favorite drink.
“Double ristretto,” he says as I wash my hands, “oat milk, sixty degrees, stirred for consistency, no foam, and the espresso needs to sit for ten seconds before combining.”
“Are you seriously still giving her your order?” Honey says in disbelief. “She knows, man.”
I just chuckle as I get to work on the drink.
“Did you get anything for your birthday yet?” Honey asks.
“I’m giving you two free dog walks,” Darla says, leaning on the counter. “Whenever Newton wants.”
“Thank you,” I say, feeling all warm inside when I picture our adorable Newton looking overwhelmed with happiness in that furry pack of dogs out there.
Owen did give me a present this morning, and it’s the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me. I still can’t believe it.
That crazy man actually tracked down the producer of Funniest Home Bloopers and purchased the episode that my embarrassing video is in! Seriously. He just bought it. It will never air again. Not on the internet and not in reruns. It’s just gone, never to be seen again. How sweet is that?
I’m still smiling, ready to climb him like a mountain as I hand him his coffee. He takes a tentative sip.
“And?”
He nods. “Delightful.”
“Hallelujah,” Honey says with a laugh.
“Well, I gotta go,” Darla says, waving. “The mutts are getting unruly. Have a great day, Faye! I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Darla!” Isaac says a little too loud.
She gives him a wink and his cheeks turn bright red. Even though she’s happily dating a cute, successful entrepreneur her age, Isaac still hasn’t given up hope.
So far, the day has been amazing. Owen is having my family over tonight and is making a feast. I couldn’t believe all of the food he was preparing at my place last night. It smelled incredible.
“You’re quite the chef,” I had told him.
He shrugged, looking sexy as hell in his black apron. “It’s just chemistry in food form.”
I don’t know how he does it. He’s good at everything he tries. It’s amazing, but also quite infuriating when I still manage to burn every grilled cheese I make.
Things are much easier with my family now with Owen instead of Alex.
Willow and Greg love how odd and quirky he is, and he and my dad have bonded over their love of sourdough.
Go figure. I don’t get it either. My dad has been maintaining the same sourdough starter for fifteen years and is obsessed with it.
It turns out that Owen is quite knowledgeable on the microbiology of wild yeast fermentation and the two talk about it in depth for hours whenever we meet up.
I don’t ask. I’m just happy they’re getting along.
“Hey!” Monica says with a big smile as she walks in. “Happy birthday!”
“You’re working on your birthday?” Ethan says, grinning when he sees me behind the counter.
“I can’t get enough of this place,” I say, laughing as I give them hugs over the counter. “I might as well make your cold brews while I’m back here.”
“I won’t say no to that,” Monica says, smiling. “No one makes it like Faye.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Honey says with a grin.
“I brought that book of knots I was talking about,” Ethan says, pulling it out of his bag.
It’s all dog-eared, and full of folded pages and old Post-it notes sticking out everywhere.
He shows it to Owen and they immediately get absorbed in the book, discussing all of the various pros and cons of each knot.
They wander over to Ethan’s usual table and sit down as I pour ice into the clear plastic glasses.
When Honey heads into the back to grab something, Monica waves me over.
“I have news,” she whispers. “Big news.”
“You’re pregnant?”
“No!” she says, bursting out laughing. She suddenly stops. “Why, do I look pregnant?”
I look over her expensive, leisure-wear covered body and wouldn’t know where a baby could possibly be hiding in there. “Not really.”
“It’s about work,” she says, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “My boss is looking for a personal assistant and I immediately thought of you. Faye, she would love you. You’d be so good at it.”
“You think?” I say, getting a flutter of nervous excitement in my belly.
“I know,” she says with her voice racing. “She’s amazing. She’s this genius billionaire who owns like a gazillion companies.”
Doubts suddenly creep in, forcing their way up through the fading excitement.
“That sounds out of my league,” I say, stammering.
“Am I even qualified? I haven’t worked in an office.
I’m not good with computers. I thought the dark web was when you turn the brightness down on your screen.
I still don’t know what it is. Is that bad? ”
“Faye,” she says, grabbing my wrist to stop me from spiraling. “You’re going to be great. It’s dealing with all sorts of people. It’s right up your alley. I told her all about you and she’s very excited to meet you.”
“She is?”
“Yes!” she says. “Honestly, you’ll get the job on my recommendation alone. We’ll work together and…”
She leans in.
“… she pays extremely well.”
I do like the sound of that. Maybe then I can treat Owen to a trip or a fancy dinner every now and then, although I know he’d never let me pay.
“There is one thing.”
My stomach drops. There’s always a catch.
“She’s a bit of an eccentric,” Monica says with a grimace. “She can be quite odd and particular with what she likes. Do you think you can handle that?”
I look over at Owen smoothing out the corner of his napkin tablecloth and grin. “Yeah. I think I’ll be okay.”
“Perfect,” she says, clapping her hands with a thrilled little squeal. “I’ll set up a meeting tomorrow. You two will get along great.”
I get more and more excited as we head out to the class, Monica and Ethan walking ahead of us, Owen and me behind, holding hands.
I’m always rubbing his four-leaf clover tattoo with my thumb as we walk. I can’t help it. I’m convinced it gives me good luck.
So far, I’ve yet to be proven wrong.
Temporary Ink is bustling—the new store is the hottest spot in the city and the sixteen other locations are coming along swimmingly.
I have an amazing apartment, the cutest dog alive, an exciting new career opportunity, wonderful new friends, and of course, I have Owen.
I let him guide me as we walk down the sidewalk. My eyes are locked on the side of his gorgeous face. When I first served this impossible customer five years ago, I never dreamed he’d turn out to be the sweetest, most uplifting, most encouraging, most caring man I’ve ever met.
He squeezes my hand.
I squeeze his back.
“Happy birthday, bean,” he says, giving me that devastatingly sexy smile that always slays me.
“Thanks, Lavoie.”
He stops and turns to me, taking my other hand.
Monica and Ethan don’t notice and they pull ahead, leaving us alone on the sidewalk.
“I love you,” he says.
I swallow hard as I gaze into his soft blue eyes. It’s the first time he’s ever said it, although I’ve felt it for a long time. With every look, every touch, every kind word… I’ve felt his love radiating through it all.
“I love you too.”
We smile at each other for a long, precious moment before our mouths come together, sealing our love with a kiss.
“Will you two lovebirds hurry up!” Ethan shouts from down the sidewalk. “We’re going to be late.”
I give Owen one last grin—both of our faces blushing—and then grab his tattooed hand and run to catch up.
Whatever love is, we have it, and that’s all that matters.
The End