Chapter 22
“Are you okay?” I ask Ginny as she glances outside.
Is she looking for someone?
She blushes and returns her focus to wiping down the coffee machines. “Uh, yeah, I’m good,” she mumbles. She’s clearly not good in the slightest, because I’ve never not seen her cheery.
I blow out a breath. Feelings aren’t really my thing, but for some reason, I have a soft spot for people like her.
People who always give their best and ask very little in return.
Those who don’t complain and try to force a smile, even if they might have a million reasons not to.
The ones who are handed a bunch of challenges and take them by the horns instead of falling to their knees.
I don’t know…people like me.
Walking over, I lean on the counter, drawing her away from her aimless scrubbing.
“I don’t think I say this enough, but I am so thankful for all the work you put in here.
” Her eyes remain focused on me, but she stays quiet.
“If you need a day off or you need anything, please don’t hesitate to speak up.
I know I might come across a little unapproachable sometimes, but that’s just my face.
” We both let out a snicker, though probably for two very different reasons.
Her because she thinks I’m just talking about resting bitch face, and me because there are times, many to be exact, that mean to be one. But only to the people who deserve it.
“If it helps, I never thought you were a bitch, not even for a second.” She taps her fingers on the counter.
“And I have no issue with the schedule either. I love the shop and being here as many days as I can.” She looks at the wall, but I can tell her train of thought has drifted off toward something else.
To whatever is truly on her mind. She returns her gaze to mine.
“Can I ask you something?” She seems hesitant.
Curiosity blooms within me, so much so that I’m brimming with questions of my own. I don’t want my nosiness to deter her from confiding in me though, so I offer up a non committal shrug. “I can’t promise I’ll always have the answer, but feel free to ask me anything you want.”
“Have you ever messed up?” She diverts her gaze again.
And good thing too, because, of course, my eyebrow arches and my face screams how vague she’s being. She’s going to have to provide additional information if she wants anything beyond a surface level response.
“Not to pry, but you’re going to have to be a bit more specific than that.” I keep my tone neutral, fighting the urge to let out a huff of laughter, because my initial thought was, of fucking course, I’ve fucked up. Too many times to count.
“In short, I’m a hot mess. Rhett came in the other day and he brought someone else.”
I can feel myself physically start to sweat as soon as she says someone else and it’s like I’m sitting at the top of an amusement park ride, just waiting for her to drop the ball that shatters any hopes I had when it comes to Rhett.
She glides her hand over her short curly pony-tail, her green eyes staring back at me. “It just so happened to be my ex boyfriend.”
Relief floods through me, though I do my best to conceal my reaction.The realization hits me like a ton of bricks now that I realize I actually care if he’s different.
“The biggest problem is he and I have a long history, and that history ended because of something I did.” Her eyes become glassy, and I’m surprised she’s sharing with little to no hesitation.
I can tell there’s a lot more behind what she has to say because of the way she is trying to hold back not only her tears, but the full details as well.
Is it really that bad? “I didn’t tell him I was back from college, and seeing him reminded me how much I miss him.
” She rubs the back of her hand across her eyes, clearing her tears just before they fall.
“So… I…well, I did exactly what Hannah did.”
“You wrote your number on his cup?”
“Not entirely,” she says, looking down at her feet.
“See, Rhett and him didn’t pick a specific drink this time and he got a phone call, so Rhett just had me wing it on two drinks.
And I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure that they would keep the drink intended for them, so I just wrote I was sorry under the sleeve of the one I meant for Judd.
I also didn’t want Judd thinking I was giving my number out right in front of him, or have Rhett think that’s all your baristas do here. ”
I can’t stifle my laugh with a comment like that, and she matches my energy with a small chuckle too, but I’m not sure if she truly finds it funny or if she’s just relieved that I’m not pissed.
“Well, I have a confession too.” I can’t stop the words as they tumble from my lips.
And maybe it’s because Daisy has been so wrapped up in Sawyer and her job, or the fact that there’s something so open and earnest about Ginny, but I feel the need to talk about my secret boy drama with someone.
“You know that day Hannah wrote her number on the cup…”
“Yeah, ugh, again, I am so sorry about that. And that I also used a cup to send a message.” She scrunches her face and I find our similarities uncanny. Of course, we truly look nothing alike, but we show our every emotion on our faces like an open book.
“Well, I wasn’t mad about the number. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it shouldn’t be a habit, but I’m actually glad she did it because it made me realize I had a crush that I probably never would have given a second thought.”
A telling look appears in Ginny’s eyes. “I knew it!”
“Wait, what? You did?” How was she able to tell? It’s not like I’ve interacted with him much in front of her. And I just recently realized my feelings, there’s no way she could have seen them first.
Her expression says I’ve lost my mind. “I had my suspicions, at least. Honestly, from the moment he first stopped in, he requested the owner’s favorite when he ordered.
I couldn’t help but wonder. Oh, and the day he was here and talked with you and Daisy about meeting his friend for drinks.
” Her eyes dart upward as though she’s envisioning that day, then she smiles.
“He called you Angel, and you looked like you were going to beat him and told him that wasn’t your name…
” She stops, returning her gaze to mine.
I can only imagine the confusion shining back at her in mine.
“I’m sorry. I promise I am not always just eavesdropping… ” Embarrassment flushes her cheeks.
“No, please continue,” I urge, not entertained by her gossip, but also intrigued.
“You responded to him in annoyance, of course, and he took it with a smile, but that was not what stood out to me the most. I guess because he’s always got that bright grin on his lips when he comes in, but it was the way he looked at you.
It was different than when he looked at Daisy.
He…looked like he…well, he looked like he believed you are an angel. ”
Her last sentence hits like a punch to the face, metaphorically knocking me straight to my ass. Maybe it’s not an act, maybe this is something more?