Chapter 36 Now Lina #2
I speak this next part right to her. “These days not many people are willing to hire teenagers. I get it, honestly. Giving a fourteen-year-old—or even an eighteen-year-old—a shot seems risky when it’s your livelihood on the line.
But I’m so glad Bubba Nikolaou wasn’t one of those people.
Because this first job taught me more than I could have ever imagined. ”
I turn back to the dining room. “For me, Bubba’s isn’t just a restaurant.
It’s the place where I learned real responsibility.
It’s the place where I first experienced the satisfaction of coming home exhausted from a full day of hard work.
It’s where I learned how to work as a team.
How to not mind getting my hands dirty. How to start managing my time and money.
How to treat people with care and respect. ”
My attention is drawn toward movement in the back left corner of the dining room.
It’s not a customer headed for the restroom: It’s Sebastian, emerging from the door to the parking lot.
He locks eyes with me, and something in his expression tells me he hasn’t just started listening.
He shuts the door quietly behind him and crosses his arms.
“It’s also where I experienced my first love,” I say, “and my first heartbreak. It’s …
” I look at my fancy sandals, searching for the right words.
“It’s where I grew up. And I guess I just want to wrap this up by saying, I’m glad it isn’t going anywhere.
” I’m looking directly at Sebastian now.
“When you have something this special—something that’s always been there for you, helped shape you into who you are—it’s easy to take it for granted.
I wish it didn’t take almost having to say goodbye for me to realize that.
But I realize it now. And I can’t imagine letting it go again.
So, yeah. I’ll stop talking now. Thanks. ”
I click off the microphone and return it to the stand.
I don’t move for a moment, looking at Sebastian across the room while he looks back at me.
It occurs to me that I should probably feel awkward, talking about my feelings in front of all these people.
But honestly? I don’t feel awkward at all.
Because these people—whether I’ve officially met them or not—are part of my home. Why should I hide who I am from them?
And then he’s in front of me. So close I can see the rise and fall of his chest. Breathe in his familiar scent: salt water and sweat and coffee beans.
“You came back,” he says.
I shake my head. “You came back. I never really left, remember?” I smile so he knows that, for once, I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way. “The café looks incredible, by the way. Great name.”
His mouth curls into a brief smirk, then flattens again.
“I thought you never wanted to see me again,” he says. “I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
“Honestly, I think Maren was angrier at you than I was.”
“She was just trying to protect you. I get it,” he says.
“I only spent a month in Santa Barbara. I felt like I owed it to my job to quit in person, and I needed to pack up my life out there anyway. Once I was back in Brantley Beach I almost came by your apartment so many times, but my mom told me you didn’t even want to talk about me.
” He smiles sadly. “She told me you’re crushing freelance life, by the way. I’m so proud of you.”
Around us, the lunchtime sounds have resumed. A few curious customers are still glancing our way, but most have returned to their own conversations. I take a step closer to Sebastian, tipping my head back so I can look up at him.
“What happened with Diamond Group?” I have so many questions, starting with this one.
“Oh, you were right,” Sebastian says. “They were totally bullshitting me. Andre helped us get out of the contract. I honestly didn’t know what we were going to do at that point, but then one night Omar and my mom and I were talking about the options for the millionth time, and Omar finally admitted that he didn’t want to let the restaurant go.
We came up with a whole new business plan that night and made the paperwork official the next day. ”
“In this case, I’m definitely glad I was right.” My smile quivers. “I do wish you were more honest with me last summer. But I also understand where you were coming from. You had a lot to figure out, and so did I. I shouldn’t have taken it so personally.”
I almost add, and assumed you were sneaking around with your coffee supplier, but think better of it.
“You’re right, I did have a lot to figure out.” He reaches a hand out to cup the side of my face, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “But the funny thing is, Mariano, the one thing I was certain about was you. I wish I’d said that a lot sooner.”
“Well,” I say, “lucky for you, I’m a very patient person.”
He laughs and says, “I promise to make it worth the wait.” Then he braces my back with the other hand, pulling me closer, and presses his lips to mine.
I lean into the kiss, forgetting we’re far from alone, until someone starts to clap, and then the whole dining room breaks out in applause.
I’m slightly embarrassed now, but not enough to stop kissing him, and apparently he feels the same, because now he’s lifting me off my feet.
I tighten my arms around his neck to steady myself, but relax once I realize I don’t really need to.
He’s not going to let me go this time.