Chapter Fourteen #3
My stomach flips a little for lying to him, but it’s not a complete and total lie. We do have plans tonight to hang out at Ainsley’s and possibly go catch a movie at the drive-in since Rory’s never been before, but they have no idea that tomorrow’s my birthday.
It’s never come up, and I haven’t felt the need to tell them. It seems kind of presumptuous to assume they’d care. I’m finally understanding what it’s like to have real friends, and I don’t want to mess that up by acting like my old self and making it all about me.
Again, what is happening to me?!
My thoughts drift to my last birthday. I rented a yacht off the side of some Turkish Island that I never learned to pronounce and was surrounded by a bunch of people whose names I hardly knew.
They didn’t care that it was my birthday, only that they were partying it up on someone else’s dime.
I thought my best friend, Vianna, was different, but even she showed her true colors eventually when she slept with Pierre.
It’s funny how different things will be this year.
“I’d better get ready.” I stand up, giving Ellie’s head a pat before heading inside.
After arriving at the cafe, I go through the morning checklist and throw another batch of Ellie’s biscuits into the back oven.
She enjoys them so much, I’ve started playing around with different flavors.
Banana is still her favorite, but she doesn’t object to sweet potatoes either.
I’ve managed to reshape them to look more presentable as well.
Although I remember with a soft smile, she never seemed to care.
The familiar scent of brewing coffee curls through the air, dark, bitter, and warm, woven with the sweet brightness of fresh strawberry pastries that I arrange on display while the rich smell of butter and sugar lingers beneath it all.
The cafe slowly wakes as the aromas settle into every corner.
Ainsley arrives shortly after I flip over the open sign and saunters inside, wearing flowers in her long hair, complementing the colors of her flowy dress.
“Gosh,” she says as she grabs her apron from its hook. “You’ve really got the hang of this.” She looks around with a soft smile, pride shining in her eyes, and back at me. “I knew you’d get here.”
“You thought I was going to break the cappuccino machine,” I quip, sneaking one of our blueberry tarts.
“Oh, honey. I still think that.” She snatches my tart and tosses it in her mouth before walking away.
I’m left stunned, eyes wide and mouth gaping, staring after her.
At least she’s honest. I take a few orders and serve some tables, the usual mix of tourists and regulars filtering through like every morning.
Rory arrives just in time for the mid-morning rush, and the three of us bounce around like a well-practiced, choreographed dance.
“Your boyfriend just walked in,” Rory whispers with a smirk.
Confused, I follow her eyes to the door where Levi and Ellie are walking through, before quickly looking back to shoot her a glare. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Made ya’ look.” She shrugs.
“You’re a menace,” I grumble.
“To society and lonely besties everywhere,” she hums, swaying in place before she picks up a menu and skips to his table.
“I’m not lonely!” I call out loud enough for a few raised brows and heads to turn my way. Heat spreads across my cheeks, and one look at Rory and Levi confirms that they both heard me, too.
“Fantastic.”
While I’m packaging Ellie’s biscuits in the back room, Ainsley and Rory come barging in like two bulls in a china shop.
“You weren’t going to tell us tomorrow is your birthday?!” Ainsley shrieks.
“And yet I’m the one with questionable mental health?” Rory’s hand slaps down on the table.
“Did you eat yet today?” I challenge.
Rory opens her mouth to argue, but the fight immediately leaves her once she realizes she’s once again got busy, distracted, and forgotten.
“That’s not the point,” she says, face scrunched.
“We’re celebrating! Forget the drive-ins!
We’re getting hot and going out tonight.
I’m talkin’ bar hopping, clubs, dancing. You name it. Birthday shots on me!”
“You don’t even drink.”
“Exactly. Perfect Designated Driver. You’re welcome.”
I roll my eyes, but it’s obvious these two aren’t budging, and I’m not getting out of this. Warmth radiates through me as I take in how excited they are to celebrate with me. My eyes drift down as I try to hide my grin, but it’s no use. “Okay.”
Ainsley smiles, and Rory hops up and down, clapping.
“Wait, how did you know?” My voice trails off at the end as I catch sight of Levi through the window.
“Your boyfriend told her.” Ainsley laughs with Rory like they’re in on a joke all their own.
“Brat,” I mutter, walking past them both and out the door with a bag of treats for Ellie.
“Birthday Bitch!” Rory whisper-shouts as the door swings.
I swear, I wouldn’t put it past her to find a way to have that on a sash by the time we go out tonight.
I march up to Levi and stop with my hands on my hips.
Brow raised in accusation, I peer down at him where he sits, the average-sized chair laughable beneath his bulk.
He slowly raises his gaze to me while Ellie sniffs at the bag of treats resting on my hip.
“How’s it going?” he asks, his face having the nerve to stay completely neutral.
“Oh, don’t you give me that, like you don’t already know exactly how it’s going.”
“You seem angry.” He feigns ignorance, his brows turned down slightly, really selling it as he rubs his knuckles against his bearded jaw.
“Do I? Jee, I wonder why?” I counter with my own mock ignorance. “Could it be that you decided to tell Rory that tomorrow is my birthday?”
“Why, Tris, I thought they already knew.” His facade of ignorance starts to break as the corner of his mouth tilts up. “At least that’s what you told me this morning.”
As my blood boils, my cheeks heat up. I fight off a grin of my own as Smart Ass continues with our sparring match.
“Had I known you wanted to keep that information all to yourself, I would have never given Rory the idea that you’re all celebrating it together.” He bats his eyes at me, daring me to contradict him but knowing I can’t.
I had my reasons for not telling them, but he’s caught me in my lie, and now I’m paying the consequences. Not that I’m actually mad, though the way he appears so laid back and relaxed in his seat tells me he knows that. He’s simply making sure I know I’ve been caught, too.
“Why are you such a pain in my ass?” I sigh heavily, my shoulders dropping.
He laughs and leans back, looking me up and down like he’s enjoying his win.
I roll my eyes, holding out the bag of treats for Ellie. “Here, these are fresh out of the oven this morning.”
Ellie’s paws pitter-patter, and her butt wiggles with excitement. Levi holds one up and tells her to sit before tossing it into her mouth. She’s barely swallowed it down before her big brown eyes are asking for more.
“Oh!” I remember excitedly. “Look at this trick I taught her.”
I take a biscuit from the bag and tell Ellie to lie down. Once she does, I drop to a knee beside Levi and balance the biscuit on her nose.
“Leave it.”
She does as she’s told, and I peek at Levi, who is now staring at her with astonishment.
“Go ahead,” I tell her with a proud smile. Chin up, I stand, flipping my hair back. “Not bad, right?”
Levi smiles. “Not bad at all. I can barely get her to sit, but I’m glad she listens to someone.”
I gaze down at Ellie with pride. “Good girl.”
Her tail wags, and she places her head under my hand for scratches. When I look back at Levi, his gaze is fixed on me. A shiver runs up my spine as I try to appear unaffected.
“I’ll see you two later,” I tell Ellie. “I still can’t believe you told her.” I shake my head, turning to walk away.
“No one should be alone on their birthday,” he says, mirroring my words from only a few weeks ago. My stomach flutters, and a lump forms in my throat. When I turn back to him, his expression turns almost tender, and he smiles. “Not even you.”
I clear my throat and look down. “Thank you.”
No one has ever gone out of their way to make sure that I feel special except for myself, but that’s what he’s done.
Using my own words against me, of course.
Not only did he listen and remember, but he also understood.
Somehow, he understands what I’m too proud to say.
That I want someone to care, someone to show up for me in a way that no one ever has before.
I may have been raised with all the riches money can buy, but money can’t replace connection.
Money can’t share with you the little moments that eventually make up a lifetime.
He may think that all he’s done is make sure I’m not alone for my birthday by telling Rory and Ainsley.
That the gift is us celebrating together, but what he doesn’t realize is that he’s already given me the greatest gift of all.
He showed up.
Now, everything that Rory and Ainsley have said starts to hold more weight.
It’s possible I was wrong. Crazy to fathom, but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I lift my gaze to find pools of jade-green already looking back at me.
I need to know if I’m crazy and this is all in my head, or if there is really something here between us.
“Levi,” I start, but my voice catches in my throat.
A look of apprehension flashes across his face, giving me pause. Before I can say anything further, an elderly woman calls out for me.
“Miss? Miss?” The customer waves me over.
Sensing that the moment is gone, I give Levi a short nod and walk away.
What would I have even said? What if I’m wrong?
What if I come off as the most insensitive bitch to assume that a man still grieving could ever care about someone like me?
Every rational and irrational thought floods my mind as I take each step toward this customer’s table.
I’m torn between being relieved by the distraction and sick to my stomach about the numerous unknowns.
“Yes, Ma’am. How can I help you?” I ask, smiling but hardly present.
“I didn’t know you served dog biscuits here.”
She looks down at her two tiny dogs and back at me, hopeful.
“Uhh.” I glance over at Ainsley, who just shrugs, not at all helpful. “We don’t, technically. It’s something I only do for my—” I pause, catching myself before I can say my dog. “They’re organic and vegan. I can get you some.”
After collecting a few biscuits in a doggy bag from the back, I head to her table and see Levi is already gone. My heart sinks in my chest, but I hardly understand why. Nothing’s happened, nothing’s changed, but I’m questioning everything.
“Here you go.” I offer another forced smile. “I gave you ten, five for each of them.”
“How much do I owe you?”
I blink at the elderly woman, unsure what to say. I hadn’t even considered selling these since they’re not technically from the cafe but from out of my own pocket.
She must sense my confusion because she grabs my hand and smiles. “Here you go, dear.”
She slides a fifty-dollar bill into my hand, grabs her dogs, and leaves. My stare ping pongs between her and the bill until she’s gone.
“Did Ms. Dot just hand you a fifty-dollar bill for them ballsack biscuits?” Ainsley’s surprised voice asks from behind me, causing me to jump.
I shake my head, mouth opening and shutting as I replay the last five minutes in fragments, unsure how it managed to feel like both a missed opportunity and completely bizarre all at the same time. I shove the fifty into my pocket and look at the bright side.
“I guess shots are on me tonight.” I grin, deciding I might as well focus on the good for now.
Who knows, maybe another opportunity will come my way.
Maybe I won’t spend the rest of today wondering if the look on Levi’s face that made me question my resolve was really there or all in my head.
I stand up taller, brushing off my apron, then check my reflection in one of the vintage mirrors hanging on the wall between overflowing vines.
Head held high, I go back to work like nothing’s happened.
After all, if a life of shopping has taught me anything, it’s that what’s meant for me doesn’t sell out, it simply waits.