Chapter 28
AVERY
Idon’t know why I’m so nervous. Today isn’t even the day people are coming to the coffee shop, and I’m already a wreck.
It’s been a steady flow of people without the focus of the event since we’re on the schedule for Sunday morning.
I’m grateful for all the little things we’ve done to change this business.
We’ve had a lot of sales in just the last hour, especially of the breakfast sandwiches, and I’ve heard a lot of compliments about them, which gets my mind going about other options.
It would be fun to have a rotating menu so there’s not always the same thing, but we’ll have to see how it goes.
We work for several more hours, serving more people than before, which already shows that our process can use some work. But at least Second Tide Coffee is at this point.
The shop is clean and ready for tomorrow when I lock up to enjoy the other activities offered today.
Lila is practically jumping up and down. “I can’t believe they’re letting us go on the go-karts for free.”
Ashley stands next to her with a much more subdued level of excitement.
“I think it’s pretty cool too,” I say, walking over.
We have to sign a form to allow Lila to go on the go-karts, but I’m okay with that, and I’m sure Cora wouldn’t mind either. She called to say she made it to her destination, which is Denver, or Detroit, or Des Moines. Who knows at this point?
“I just need to sign the paper for her,” I say, pointing to Lila once we get up to the main desk.
“Okay, what’s your name?” the woman asks.
“I’m Avery Parker, and this is Lila Marymount. The girl next to her is Ashley Turner.”
“Got it. I just need you to sign here for the three of you.”
I wave my hands quickly. “Oh, no. This isn’t for me.”
“Why not?” she asks. “Now’s a good time for us to test out everybody, and it’s part of the fun for today.”
I hesitate, glancing over at the line of people waiting for the go-karts. As much as I love people, I don’t know if I’m going to survive this weekend with my nerves already shot, worried about how Second Tide Coffee will be received.
“Come on, Aunt Avery. You’ll do awesome,” Lila says. “You can try to school me, although I don’t think you’ll beat me in this kind of race.”
I laugh. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been driving way longer than you’ve been alive.” Then I think through the math and remember I was only thirteen when she was born. “Okay, that’s not really true, but close enough.”
“That means we need to battle, so sign it for us,” Lila says with a grin.
I sigh and pick up the pen, scribbling my signature on the page.
“What do we have here?” a voice asks from behind us.
I turn to find Max’s friend grinning at me with Max just a few feet behind him. Max looks up and smiles, sending my stomach into a full flip.
“I don’t believe I’ve actually met you,” his friend says, holding out his hand to me. “I’m Aiden Pearson.”
“Avery Parker. Looks like we have the same initials.”
“Are you racing?” Aiden asks.
“Yeah, they convinced me to try it.” I hand the pen back to the woman at the table. I want to say her name is Brenda, but it’s been too long to ask. “Are you guys racing as well?”
“Absolutely,” Aiden says, elbowing Max in the shoulder.
“I like it better when you’re not in Penrose Beach,” Max says dryly.
Aiden gives a dramatic look of hurt. “What do you mean? I’m always fun.”
Max looks at me as if searching for someone else to commiserate with. I can most certainly be that person.
“Are you sure about this? I really should work on your apartments instead,” Talia says from behind them.
It’s only then that I notice Aiden tense up, his mouth clamping shut as he stares straight ahead before looking down at the paper he’s supposed to sign.
“You deserve a break too,” Max tells her. “And what better way to do that than by helping other businesses in town while drumming up more business for yours after you’re done with my flats?”
Talia shrugs. “Yeah right. Like anyone else is going to hire me. You’re the only one who took a chance on me, and it’s because you’re an out-of-towner. There’s no way these people will look past my family drama and give me a fresh start.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, but I’m grateful when Max responds. “Good work always speaks for itself. Once people see the quality of what you’ve done, they’d be idiots not to hire you.”
She looks like she’s about to tear up, but then Aiden turns slightly toward her.
“Aiden Pearson, what are you doing here?” she asks. The way he’s standing, she must not’ve seen his face before now.
I find it an odd question. Everyone in town is here, getting ready to test the go-karts.
He gives her what looks like a painfully forced smile. “I just came to say hi to Max and see how things were going down here in Penrose Beach. Sounds like you’re killing it in the building department. I’ve seen some of your work. Congratulations.”
It’s the weirdest conversation starter ever, but I’m still trying to figure Aiden out. Why would he tense up when he heard Talia talking? There must be a connection. Is there an old grudge between them? Or do they know each other from somewhere else?
Max said he’s never been to this town before, and yet Talia and Aiden know each other. Is this one of those chance meetings in a random part of the world?
“Well, I’m just surprised to see you here,” Talia responds. “You haven’t been here in years. Did you get a new phone number or something? Because I never heard from you after the last summer you stayed here. What was that, five or six years ago?”
My eyes go wide. Were they exes?
Max looks at me with the same expression, and it feels like we’re privy to a conversation that could go south and quickly, or like it could be on the Drama channel. Where’s the popcorn when you need it?
Aiden’s cheeks flare bright red. “Well, with my business, someone leaked my phone number, and I got so many spam calls. There were a few people from high school who kept bugging me for loans with no solid business plan. I had to get a new one. I lost the old phone too, so I didn’t have everyone’s numbers saved. ”
“Aiden, you would’ve told me about that,” Max says.
“It’s true, man. I had to get your number from Jackson.”
“So you can remember Jackson’s number, but not mine?”
My head is on a swivel as I try to follow the conversation. Since I’m mostly an outsider, I can relax into this kind of entertainment.
“Who is Jackson?” I whisper. Talia shrugs but the guys are glaring at one another. I thought she might have some idea.
“Unlike some people,” Aiden says with an exaggerated look at Max, “Jackson shares his personal phone number with the world on just about every website. It was a breeze to find his.”
Jackson=close friend, willing to share his phone number with the world and apparently not worried about scammers.
Max still looks skeptical. I’m trying to catch up.
“Okay, we need all of you to step over here for the safety briefing,” Brenda says, waving us over.
We leave the small tent area and head toward a guy already dressed in a helmet and ready for racing.
There are three bigger tracks, along with a few smaller ones for younger kids. One of the bigger tracks requires wearing a bright jacket as well as a helmet. The other two don’t, which means those are the two I’ll test. I’m good with keeping the danger factors low.
After a ten-minute speech about being safe and not bumping into each other, we finally get into the line leading to the track with the least amount of people.
Lila and Ashley stand in front of me, chatting excitedly about racing and some cute boy they spotted from school farther down the line. I laugh and turn to listen to the awkward conversation between Aiden and Talia while Max stands close beside me.
The conversation is painfully stilted.
“Are they okay?” I whisper to Max.
He shrugs. “I’m not sure. Sounds like one of them has liked the other for a while, and he’s being kind of weird about it.”
“What’s the problem?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure.”
He leans against the rail, only an inch or two away from me. There’s a faint hint of his cologne, and before I can stop myself, I take another breath of it. I put my hand on the rail next to his, surprised by the suspense at being so close. He’s held my hand before, but maybe that was just a fluke.
Yeah, that’s dangerous territory.
“You left the coffee shop quickly yesterday. Is everything okay?” I ask, studying his face to see if there’s a hidden answer.
He lets out a long breath and gives me a small smile. There’s something behind it, pain maybe? Or frustration?
“It was kind of a work call, but it didn’t go well.” He looks wounded, and I can’t help but reach over, wrapping my arms around his middle for a hug.
He’s a stiff as a board at first, then relaxes into the embrace. His voice is a bit muffled when he says, “Sorry, I’m not used to hugs.”
I pull back in surprise, still holding onto him. “What do you mean, you’re not used to hugs?”
He lets out a light chuckle, and I’m lost in the sadness in his eyes. “I didn’t grow up in a home that was outwardly affectionate.”
I frown, trying to picture something like that. Hugs are a part of life, connecting people when they’re struggling.
“You can ask Lila, but I tend to hug for everything.”
“I don’t mind,” he says, grinning at me.
What would it be like to just reach up and kiss him?
The thought sends me spiraling, and I immediately remind myself that I need to stop thinking about him as more than a friend, or my heart is going to get crushed.
I take a step back and realize the line has moved several steps forward.
I close the gap and turn back to Max. He reaches over and takes my hand, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He might not be super comfortable with hugs yet, but he’s knocking it out of the park on his hand-holding skills.
“I’m excited about this weekend,” I say, changing the subject. It sounds lame to my ears, and I frown.
“Me too. So, you’re not originally from here?” Max asks.