Chapter 4 #2
Mila reached across the table, squeezing Landry’s hand.
“Okay, first of all? Chad is a dope. If he made a point—which I highly doubt—it was by accident. Second, you’ve done plenty.
You graduated college. You support yourself—which, news flash, is hard as hell.
And you’re writing a freaking book while also making the best flat white within a ninety-mile radius. ”
Landry opened her mouth, but Mila held up a finger.
“Uh-uh. Let me finish listing all the ways Chad is wrong. It’s deeply satisfying.”
Landry huffed a laugh.
“So what if you haven’t done everything yet?
You’re twenty-four, not ninety. You’ve got time.
Just because Chad doesn’t know how to dream big doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
” Mila squeezed her hand once more, voice gentle but firm.
“Don’t give up on what you want—give up the guy who doesn’t want it for you. ”
Landry had barely stepped inside her apartment when her phone buzzed.
Vern.
She already knew what he was going to ask before she answered.
“Hey, Landry, I hate to do this, but—”
“I got you, Vern.” She toed off her shoes and sank onto the couch, already reaching for the coffee shop polo she’d tossed over the armrest earlier. “What time?”
“Can you be here by six? One of the closers called in sick, and Diane already put in her hours this morning, so…”
“I’m happy to help.”
“Lifesaver.” Relief flooded his voice. “I owe you one.”
By the time she ended the call, exhaustion tugged at her, but the idea of working another shift didn’t bother her nearly as much as the alternative.
Chad had mentioned meeting up with his boss, Stu, that afternoon to go over the responsibilities he’d soon take on at the truck stop, but she knew how the evening would play out. Even without concrete plans, he would expect to see her.
She wasn’t ready for another conversation about their future. Not yet.
At six, she found herself back behind the counter, this time with Martin, a quiet college student from Collister. Business was slow—painfully so. By eight, only a handful of customers had wandered in, and with most of the closing tasks already done, the shop felt eerily still.
Martin barely looked up from his phone, perched on a stool behind the counter. Landry wiped down the espresso machine for the second time, then glanced at the clock.
“Why don’t you head out, Martin?” she offered, smiling. “I’ve got everything covered here. No point in both of us sitting around for the next hour.”
His head snapped up. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. In seconds, he’d grabbed his backpack. “Thanks! I’ve got a test tomorrow, so this helps.”
Landry waved as he disappeared through the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She took her time making a cappuccino, the hiss of steaming milk filling the quiet shop. When she reached for her phone, a text from Chad lit up the screen.
Miss you. Wish you were here with me now.
She hesitated. Then, slowly, she slid the phone back into her pocket.
The fight from the night before gnawed at her, coiling tight in her chest. It was like she was on a train going full speed, and every instinct screamed at her to jump before it was too late.
Mila’s words echoed in her head. Don’t give up on what you want—give up the guy who doesn’t want it for you.
At ten o’clock, she locked the front door and flipped the Closed sign.
For a moment, she simply stood there, staring out at the quiet street. The moon spilled silver light onto the sidewalk, and a warm breeze stirred the leaves near the curb.
As she turned, a wave of sadness swept over her.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the mailbox.
It will lead you where your heart needs to go.
The old legend tugged at her, its pull stronger than ever.
She hadn’t even told Mila this, but each time she walked by the mailbox, it felt like it was calling to her.
Ridiculous, right?
Her parents would think so. Chad definitely would. Just imagining the look on his face made her lips curl into a small smile.
But still…
Could simply writing her dreams on paper and putting it into this letter box make them come true?
Could it lead her where she was meant to be?
Her chest tightened. Because if she was being honest with herself, she already knew where she wasn’t meant to be.
With Chad.
She liked him, sure. But love? That was something else entirely. And if she truly mattered to him, he would know her better than he did.
He would know that writing wasn’t just a hobby. That the thought of an office job made her feel trapped. That she wanted to see the world before she settled down, before she let herself belong to anyone.
And Chad wanted the opposite.
They weren’t right for each other, no matter how much he wished they were.
Her gaze drifted back to the mailbox.
What if the lore was true?
There was only one way to find out.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Landry hurried to the break room. Digging through the lost-and-found bin, she tossed aside forgotten scarves, sunglasses and random hair ties until her fingers brushed against something smooth.
A box of pale pink stationery.
It had been sitting there for months—abandoned, forgotten. That made it fair game.
Settling at the table, she pulled out a sheet of paper and picked up a pen.
Then, with her heart pounding, she began to write.
She poured everything onto the page.
Her dreams.
Her fears.
Her hopes for a future that she got to choose.
By the time she finished, her hands trembled. She folded the letter, tucked it into its matching envelope and strode into the front of the shop.
The mailbox loomed before her, waiting.
With a deep breath, before she could hesitate, Landry slid the envelope into the slot.
As it disappeared, something inside her shifted.
For the first time in a long time, she felt light.
Like she had just taken the first step toward something real.
Toward something that was hers.