Chapter 6 Wes
I walk in and do a quick glance around. No one here looks like the picture Erick showed me of Courtney. Thank goodness . . . time to get my stressed self under control.
The cafe is busy. I haven’t been in here before since it’s the opposite direction of the park and my hours can be so odd. It looks like a newer build for the town, and definitely wasn’t here when I lived here before. I slouch into an oversized chair next to the window and scan the tables again, just to be sure. Maybe from here I’ll be able to see her coming. The window also has a stunning view of the lake and walkway. The store is complete with cozy couches and a fireplace that I could live next to. I make a mental note to come back when I can relax, sink into a chair with a good book, and not be bothered by a date.
The door has a bell hanging that dings each time someone comes in. I can’t decide if it’s cute or annoying.
Ding . I look up. Not her.
Ding. Not her.
Ding. Not her.
I wipe my clammy hands down the front of my jeans and attempt to smooth down my unruly hair. I have my mother’s curls and my dad always seems to comment on it having a mind of its own when I’m home.
Ding. Still. Not. Her.
I wait for about thirty minutes and decide to head out after sending a quick message to Erick. I drop off my mug into a bin next to the garbage, tossing my napkins, then start for the door.
Ding. It’s her.
“Hey, Wes! How are you?” she asks in a sugary sweet voice, smiling broadly at me. “I’m so excited to meet you!” She’s just as cute as the pictures Erick showed me, but after being this late, her excitement really doesn’t sit well with me. Her hair and other . . . assets bounce as she leans in to me to let other customers by. I take a large step backwards.
“Hi, Courtney. I’m good. Erick really seemed to want us to meet, or at least your aunt did.”
I laugh, trying to lighten the awkward mood as she slides into the chair across from where I had been sitting earlier.
“Oh him, he’s such a bore. But you are cute, so I’ll give him that.”
I bristle as I slide into the chair across from her. Erick has been my friend forever, and I don’t care if she’s his family, I’m not okay with how she’s talking about him, or her whole attitude.
I narrow my eyes at her, unsure of how to proceed. “Everything okay? Or did something happen that held you up?”
“What do you mean?” she sings, batting her long eyelashes and pouting her definitely filled lips.
“Um, you’re over thirty minutes late. I was wondering if everything was all right.”
“Oh yeah, I’m always late,” she says like it’s the most normal thing in the world. There’s that smile again, paired with a giggle. Another pout. God, how can I end this kindly? She looks at me expectantly and I can’t seem to help the next words that come out of my mouth.
“I see, well, would you like something to drink?”
Why, Wes? How hard is it to say, “Nice to meet you, goodbye”?
“Ooo, do they do cocktails here?!” Her eyes light up and she claps her hands, jumping up and down slightly in her chair.
You’re doing this for Erick.
I can’t help but laugh and she gives me a death stare. After a pause, I add, “It’s not that kind of place. It’s called Morning Tea Bookery. They have tea to drink.”
“That’s all they have? Tea? My aunt only said it was a drink shop. There’s no coffee?” she asks with a disgusted face and glances at the menu. We walk up to the counter and I turn to order her a basic black tea.
“Wes?” A woman comes out of the backroom, my name almost a whisper on her lips. I haven’t seen her for at least ten years, but I’d know her anywhere. Her voice stops my heart.
Well this is unexpected.
She’s changed a lot since we were fifteen. I suppose I have too, but she is absolutely more beautiful than I remember and I can’t take my eyes off of her. Her long brown hair and warm cinnamon eyes stare back at me, taking me back to the summer of ninth grade. Courtney jabs me in the ribs, jarring me from my trip down memory lane.
“Uh, yes.” I cough. “Hi.” I struggle to compose myself, my throat suddenly painfully dry. My brain struggles to form a complete sentence, or think through what is happening. Why now, of all moments?
“How are you, Rose? It’s been so long.” I force a swallow, still staring into Rose’s rich eyes.
“Gosh, it’s been what? Ten, eleven years?” She gives me a strained smile and Courtney gives me another jab, reminding me that she’s standing next to me. Rose looks down at the counter and starts playing with her notepad, a frown finds its way to her lips. I know that frown is caused by me, this uncomfortable interaction, and our history. There’s so much I’d like to say, so much I’ve rehearsed in my head for this exact moment, but right now is not the time. How the hell did I not notice her earlier?
“Yeah, ten, I think. I moved back a couple weeks ago and am working at the park up 65.” I try to catch her gaze again, desperate to understand how she’s doing and what is happening in her mind right now. She’s really engrossed in her notepad and I’m getting a pretty clear signal that she does not want to be talking to me.
“That’s great. We’ll have to catch up sometime.”
She says “great” like she means the opposite. This isn’t at all what I had planned for seeing her again. She averts her eyes and starts straightening mugs on the shelf next to us, absentmindedly.
“We’re on a blind date!” Courtney breaks in with a giggle, looking between us. “Do you have anything other than gross tea? I hate it.” I shake my head in embarrassment and mouth sorry to Rose when she looks up at the two of us. Her face is now completely blank and I can’t get a read on her at all.
Could this get any worse?
“Gross tea?” Rose turns her attention to Courtney. “Well, you chose the wrong place for your date. We really have just tea, water, or bottled sodas. You might like our peach jasmine tea though, it’s really light and great for summer.” Rose is being kind. I smile her way and our gazes meet for a few seconds. My heart skips a beat. Searching her eyes again, I see a blank wall. My stomach drops. Oh god, there’s so much to say.
“Fine.” Courtney turns to me and as her blue-eyed stare gets uncomfortably long, it dawns on me that she’s expecting me to pay. I hand Rose a five and give her a shrug. She just raises her eyebrows as Courtney links her arm in mine and nuzzles my shoulder. Why can’t this girl take a hint?
“I’ll bring it out in a minute, you can grab a seat.” I linger at the counter, but Rose waves us away and turns her back on me. As we head back to our table. I can’t help but keep my eyes on Rose, not caring when Courtney spots a bird cage hanging in the corner and starts to meander away. Inside is a sweet-looking cockatiel and a sign that says to not touch or poke him. Courtney goes right up and starts to coo at him.
“Oh, look at you!” Her finger finds its way inside the cage and is promptly rewarded with a swift nip from the bird, who appears to be named Wilfred. “Ow!” she screeches and the whole shop turns to look at us. That’a boy, Wilfred.
Rose comes over in a hurry. “What happened?”
Walking over from our table, I chime in, “Oh, she stuck her finger in the cage, despite your sign here.” I roll my eyes, as does Rose—I think more at me than at Courtney though unfortunately. Clearly, Erick didn’t share the full story or care to tell me this was Rose’s shop. A heads-up would have been nice, buddy. I’ll have to get the full story from him later.
“He’s a horrible bird! How can you keep such a thing around people? He should be put down!” Courtney is losing it and making quite the scene. I can feel all the other guests in the store watching us.
“Excuse me? There was clearly a sign and you clearly ignored it.” Oh wow, points for assertive, Rose. I like this side of her. I remember her being quieter when we were younger, but love that she’s speaking her mind right now. “I’m going to ask you to leave. You’ve insulted my shop and you may have injured my bird. Go. Now.” Another shop worker I don’t recognize rushes over with a to-go cup and thrusts it into Courtney’s hands along with a band-aid and Rose waves us both towards the door.
Well, there’s no mistaking that message.