Chapter 6
Act I, Scene VI: The Brewery, Hackney
Kalina
Dimples, I have an idea for our first lesson
18:40
What is it?
18:40
I don’t want to give too much away, but meet me at The Brewery on Saturday morning
18:41
So vague
18:41
Patience
18:41
I have none
18:41
You will learn, young Padawan
18:41
We are not doing Star Wars references
18:41
Come on…you know you want to…
18:42
Never
18:42
I’ll change your mind. 8am
18:42
Thank you and bye
18:43
I straightened my coat before I walked into The Brewery.
It was too early on a Saturday for it to be busy, but a few patrons were scattered around the tables. Titan was one of them, focused on his laptop toward the back.
He looked up as I stepped closer and his green gaze met mine.
‘Are we having a meeting?’ I asked.
‘Kind of.’ He gestured for me to sit.
I shrugged off my coat and he made no attempt to hide his gaze as it raked over my appearance.
‘Can I help you?’ I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
‘We’re going to be trialling some things today and I want to see you in your natural element.’ He nodded approvingly at my golden yellow slip dress. ‘This works.’
‘I asked for dating advice, not a fashion consultation.’ I tugged on the sleeve of my black turtleneck.
‘All part of the package, dimples. But I know you need no help in that department.’ He flashed a grin at me.
I fidgeted with the thin strap of the dress. ‘Dadi makes a lot of my clothes, so they always fit well and don’t have irritating seams.’
‘They do look like they were made for you. Always appreciated.’ His lips curled into a smile.
He never skipped a beat.
I harrumphed and sat down. ‘What did you mean by natural element?’
He pushed his laptop aside and crossed his forearms on the table. ‘I need a baseline, so I need to watch you work.’ I blinked rapidly. ‘I’m so confused. You’ve watched me work. We’ve been working together.’ Since Ted and Savi were now married, the Montagues and Rays did business together. With Titan being an honorary Montague, we’d never worked together before and now I couldn’t seem to turn around without finding him in the hotel. He was one of the most in demand wedding photographers.
He let out a little laugh, and it made the corners of his eyes wrinkle. ‘Not that kind of work. I want you to ask someone out.’
‘What? While you sit there and watch me?’ I shook my head.
‘Kind of. Did you bring your earphones like I asked?’
I reached into the pocket of my dress and pulled out the little case.
‘Put them in.’
‘Am I going to listen to some motivational speech?’ I adjusted them until they fit.
He gestured to my phone and I handed it over. ‘No.’
I watched with apt fascination as he scrolled and tapped away on the screen.
‘So…what am I waiting for?’ I said after nothing but silence between us for a good minute.
He smiled then brought my phone closer to his face. ‘Hello there.’ His voice was clear in my ears, and sent a little shiver down my spine.
‘Oh.’
‘Is it too loud?’ he whispered.
Somehow worse. ‘It’s fine.’
‘Okay, you’re going to get up and get coffee and two phone numbers.’ He held up his fingers.
‘What?’ I widened my eyes.
‘You need to practise, and I need to see it.’
My heart hammered in my chest. ‘Do I have to?’
‘You don’t have to do anything. But you wanted my help, and this is part of the process.’
‘Fine,’ I huffed out.
‘I’ll be right here,’ he said and shot me his laser focused look.
I stood. ‘Do you want anything?’
He shook his head. ‘Nope. This is all about you—pretend I’m not even here.’
‘You’re literally in my head.’ I pointed to my ears.
He let out a chuckle. ‘Let your hair down.’
‘What? Why?’
‘It looks better down, and it’ll cover them.’
I pulled on my scrunchie and let my hair fall around my shoulders. ‘Is this okay?’
Titan nodded and his gaze travelled down my neck where the strands tickled my skin. ‘Yes, it’s good.’
‘Am I asking someone specific?’ I looked around the cafe. Other than the manager, the barista, two waiters, and three other people, the place was quite empty.
‘I’ll let you know.’
I gave him a curt nod. ‘Wish me luck.’
‘I don’t think you’ll need it, but good luck.’
With a deep breath, I gathered courage from somewhere deep inside of me and walked up to the counter. ‘Hi, can I get a chai latte, please? With almond milk.’
The assistant took my payment and called out my order to the barista.
‘Good going with the almond milk,’ Titan’s whisper broke through the light cafe chatter and the ambient music over the speakers.
I looked over my shoulder and he flashed me a wicked grin. I rolled my eyes in response and made it as dramatic as possible so he’d see it from where he sat.
‘Chai latte?’ the barista called then placed the cup down in front of me. I’d seen him at the cafe, but we’d never spoken until now.
‘With almond milk?’
‘Yup,’ he said. He had a kind smile. ‘I remember your order.’
‘Bingo. He’s number one,’ Titan said.
Too bad I couldn’t shush him.
I spoke to the man in front of me instead. ‘You do?’
‘It’s always almond milk, but you switch between a chai and a dirty chai.’ The barista glanced upward and a small smile flashed across his face.
‘Predictable I guess?’ I placed the lid on the cup to give my hands something to do.
‘Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. He seems to like it.’ Titan sounded like he was enjoying this a little too much.
‘Not at all,’ the barista said. ‘You seem sure of what you want. You know what you like.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that.’ I reached up to touch my hair and tuck it behind my ear, remembered the earphones, then dropped my hand.
‘Don’t hesitate. Be sure in your answers,’ Titan said, firmly.
I wanted to tell him his watching me was what made me nervous and unsure.
‘I mean, yes. I know what I like.’ My voice was a little louder than I’d anticipated.
The barista raised his eyebrows. ‘Are you okay?’
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, chewing nervously on one end.
The barista’s gaze dropped lower down on my face.
‘That…also works.’ Titan said.
I grabbed my cup and nodded at the man. ‘Thank you,’ I said before I hurried back to the table and left him no chance to respond.
Titan’s brows furrowed.
I sat in the seat I’d vacated not even ten minutes before, and with my cup set down on the table between us, I pushed my palms against my face.
‘That was—’
‘Terrible,’ I finished for Titan.
‘Not terrible. Not great, but not the worst,’ he said.
I lowered my hands to give him an incredulous look.
‘I can’t give you any feedback based on one encounter.’
I yanked out the earphones. ‘I’m not doing this again.’
‘You can’t give up after one encounter.’
‘Yes I can.’ I slunk lower in my seat hoping the ground would consume me.
‘Come with me,’ he said.
After a brief stop at Titan’s studio to deposit all our belongings, we took our takeaway cups and strolled down the street.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked.
‘Enjoy the journey.’ He looked straight ahead.
‘I can’t, not when I don’t know the destination.’
‘Do you ever…switch off?’ I didn’t need to see behind his sunglasses to know one brow was arched. I heard it in his tone.
I shook my head. ‘Never.’
‘I think the cafe wasn’t the best idea.’
‘Oh, you think?’ I replied, my tone laced with sarcasm.
He nudged me gently. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t realise it would be so overwhelming for you.’
We waited at a crossing, and I counted in my head until the little green man appeared. ‘I don’t like to feel unprepared.’
‘Which is what dating is.’ He took a sip of his coffee. ‘It’s all about the vibes. The feeling you get when you’re with someone.’
‘I realise this may come as a shock to you, but I am not a vibey person.’
He flashed me a cheeky smile. ‘Oh, come now, don’t be modest. All of this,’ he said, gesturing between us, ‘is what flirting is.’
I paused mid-step. ‘I am not flirting with you.’
He shrugged. ‘Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe.’
I laughed for the first time that day. He was always one step ahead of me. We walked a little further where we reached a beautiful, lush park. There were runners along the paths, children running away from parents on the wet grass, and a large pond right in the centre.
‘This place is beautiful.’
‘I like to come here and soak it all in. Plus, the ducks are adorable.’
I turned to face him as he looked out ahead. His relaxed shoulders and unclenched jaw told me this was his safe space.
I inhaled and exhaled a few times.
‘What’re you thinking?’ he asked. He’d pushed his sunglasses onto the top of his head, and his gaze softened as he waited for my response.
I looked up at him. ‘Sorry, this week was a nightmare. I think it’s spilling into my weekends and social meetings.’
He tipped his head in a silent gesture to continue.
I inhaled deeply, but didn’t say anything for a beat and started picking at the skin on the side of my thumb.
‘You can tell me anything. Or nothing. It’s entirely up to you.’
‘I’ve been wondering if taking on the management role was a good idea.’ I toed the ground with my boot. It was the first time I’d said this aloud to anyone. The fears of running my own department were culminating into self-doubt and criticism.
Titan shook his head. ‘I’ve worked with you. You’re one of the best managers out there.’
‘But not the best?’ I teased.
‘You’ll learn and grow.’ He smiled behind the rim of his cup.
I sighed. ‘I don’t want to disappoint Savi and my uncle. They’re both excited about me taking over. More than me.’ It didn’t help that with Savi’s difficult pregnancy, she came into the office less and less. But most days, we would at least have coffee and a vent session in the courtyard.
He levelled me with a look. ‘You think they would ever be anything but proud of you? They chose you for a reason, and it’s not nepotism. Well maybe not entirely.’
‘If this doesn’t work out, I’m going to blame you for pepping me up.’
He chuckled. ‘You’re welcome to, but if this does work out, dating and life coach has a nice ring to it.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’ I needed it to clear my mind.
‘You’re always welcome. Ted and I come here sometimes to ground ourselves. It’s peaceful.’
Some ducks swam by and a child shrieked with delight as they tried to feed them some bread.
‘I’m going to relook at the plans I have for you.’
‘Today doesn’t count?’
‘Oh, dimples. It absolutely does. But we will adjust accordingly.’
‘Because I’m so bad at this?’
‘No, but there is room for improvement. Everyone has room for growth and change.’
‘I can’t wait for your next task.’ I beamed. Maybe this whole dating thing wouldn’t be so bad after all? How could it be when I had the best teacher.
The notifications on his phone went off incessantly. He peeked at his screen and his eyes went wide for a moment before he cleared his throat and locked it. He shook his head then looked at me again. ‘Um, yeah. We can chat next week.’
‘Are you okay? Do you need to leave?’ I enjoyed our little walk and talk.
‘No. We need to get your bag at the studio anyway.’ He placed a hand in his pocket and shuffled on his feet.
‘Come on, if you have work to do, I won’t keep you.’
‘Work. Yeah.’ He chuckled nervously.
‘Oh my God, do you have a date?’ The heat rose to my cheeks.
‘I don’t date, remember?’
Oh.
‘We can go, I have plans for the rest of my day anyway,’ I said.
Those plans involved me becoming one with my bed, and reading my latest historical romance. But, I wasn’t about to divulge those details to him.
We started our walk back to his studio and judging from the buzzing of his phone, I’d clearly chosen the right mentor.
Titan knew what he was doing.