Chapter 24
Ivy
“So how long have you been a manager at the coffee shop?” Cleo asked.
“I’ve been manager pretty much forever. I started working for Cuppa Comfort when Lucas, that’s the owner and my best friend.
.. likewise, not in that order...” Ivy winked, “hadn’t long opened his coffee truck on our college campus a decade ago.
I worked some evenings as well as weekends, and when the business took off and the lines grew longer, he started looking for premises.
Once he found what he was looking for in the flagship shop I’m in just now, he got the lease and we worked together in planning what the place should look like, and everything that came with owning a larger business than the coffee truck was. ”
Ivy noticed Cleo hanging on her every word, and the warm flutter in her belly gave her the confidence to continue with the parts of the story she was used to telling, only holding a few key facts back, for now.
“At the time, I was struggling with a lot. College was never something I had ever wanted to do, so I didn’t keep up with my classes, I was struggling having recently came out, which wasn’t going well at all, and I just felt so lost. Lucas knew that academics weren’t for me, so he offered me a full-time role in the new shop as his assistant manager.
That way, either him or I would be working at any time, so that we could make sure everything was running the way we’d planned.
Then when he opened each additional location, each new staff member would start training in my shop, while he trained the managers in their location, to ensure continuity throughout the entire company. ”
“That’s really impressive, Ivy,” Cleo said. “It must be really satisfying seeing something grow from grass roots right up to a franchise. You must be so proud.”
“Of Lucas? Yeah, I really am.” Ivy agreed with a warm smile when she thought of her best friend and all he’d achieved in the last decade.
“No Ivy, of you. It couldn’t have been easy to take such a risk at the time and leave college in the hope that Lucas opening the first shop would continue to grow the business enough to let you make a life from it. That took some major guts on your part. I hope you never forget that.”
Ivy could do nothing but smile. She’d heard similar sentiments said over the years by a few people, but somehow it meant more coming from Cleo.
“Thanks, now the next big step is coming and that’s definitely the big risk.
” Ivy paused to give herself a minute before announcing the one thing that had only ever been mentioned between herself and Lucas.
“I’m starting the process of setting up my very own franchise and being the owner as well as the manager. ”
“Ivy that’s great news! I know what it’s like taking the leap and going out on your own, but I think you’re in a far better position than I was, given you’ve been involved in doing that multiple times already.
Granted, it was at a distance, but you’re not going into it blindly, and you know exactly what’s expected.
Do you have a location in mind?” Cleo asked.
“Not yet, Lucas suggested that I look at locations slightly outside the central cluster that he currently has. He thinks near an industrial location where there would still be good foot traffic. I’ve tried looking over the past couple of days, but to be honest, it’s quite overwhelming. ” Ivy admitted.
“If you need any help, I’d be happy to keep an eye out for suitable properties for you. Architects don’t just design new structures all the time, you know. More often than not, my job is about redesigning existing structures to meet new requirements.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” Ivy said softly as she smiled at Cleo, who just kept blowing Ivy’s mind at how generous she seemed to be in every possible way.
By the time they were both suitably full of the picnic, the air had gotten much cooler around them, and the light was starting to fade. Ivy reached for her jacket and put it on as they started to pack up the containers into her basket.
“Oh wow!” Cleo said, making Ivy jump. “Sorry,” Cleo placed a hand on Ivy’s arm in apology, “I just noticed the time, it’s after four already!”
“No way! I guess time really does fly,” Ivy locked eyes with Cleo and the look they gave each other clearly showed they shared the same sentiment.
They finished packing and Ivy placed the folded blanket on top of the basket.
“I had a really great time today, Cleo.” Ivy stood with the basket at her feet, and both her hands clasped in front of her because she couldn’t think of what else to do with them.
“So did I, Ivy. Like I said earlier, it’s been a while, and to be honest with you, I was really nervous about today. Now that we’re here, I can’t for the life of me remember why that was.” Ivy swooned at Cleo’s frankness and her ability to be so vulnerable after only spending a few hours with her.
“Oh, I was too, but now I feel like you do.” Ivy tried desperately to tame the butterflies that were currently swooping around her stomach.
She took a calming breath and picked up the now far emptier and much lighter basket in one hand and slowly began to walk.
Cleo fell into step beside her, at the side without the basket.
“Thank you, Cleo. For being the best first first date I could have hoped for.”
Cleo reached out and hesitated for a moment before taking Ivy’s hand in her own.
“Thank you, for letting me be that first for you.” Ivy felt Cleo’s fingers intertwine with hers, and she felt the air whoosh into her lungs, and she tried even harder to settle the butterflies which felt far more the size of dragons at this point.
Cleo’s hand was warm, and soft, but strong, and sent electricity coursing through her veins. Their hands fit so perfectly together.
“Will you be spending the evening relaxing ahead of a busy week, architect-ing? Is that even a word??” Ivy laughed.
“I’m not sure it is, but yes, I will be.
Usually, I do some work at home on the weekends I’m not spending time with Sophie, but this week I won’t be.
I left all my work things at the office on Friday to give myself a full weekend completely off.
So, I’ll probably read, after I call Lana, otherwise she’ll kill me and make my life hell tomorrow if I don’t.
” Cleo chuckled and glanced at Ivy briefly.
“I guess being your own boss can make that a little easier for you when you need to or want to. I’ll be watching some TV after a similar call with Lucas and Gabby.
” Ivy glanced down at her hand in Cleo’s and smiled.
To think she’d gone her whole adult life without experiencing this simple act felt mind-blowing to her at that moment.
“Are you doing ok over there?” Cleo raised an eyebrow but was smiling.
“Absolutely,” Ivy breathed out as her eyes locked with Cleo’s and they began to slow to a stroll. “Can we do this again, maybe? If you want to?” Ivy felt Cleo’s fingers gently squeeze her own.
“I’d love to,” Cleo said with a grin, then her smile faltered, and her brows furrowed slightly, and Ivy rubbed her thumb over the back of Cleo’s hand to offer her reassurance to say what she needed to.
“I said earlier that it’s been a while since I was last on a date, I just need you to be patient with me, because I need to take this slow.
” Ivy held her breath slightly as she waited for Cleo to continue, knowing she probably wouldn’t necessarily elaborate on her reasons, but waited to see what Cleo was willing to open up to her about.
Cleo stopped walking and turned slightly to face Ivy as she spoke.
“I just mean, I was hurt in the past, badly, so it’s going to take me some time before anything physical might happen between us.
I just wanted to put that out there at the start, so that if you weren’t wanting to wait, then you could back out now.
” Ivy saw the mix of emotions pass over Cleo’s face as sadness bled into something Ivy couldn’t put her finger on, before resolving on hope.
“Oh Cleo,” Ivy said as she continued to rub her thumb on the back of Cleo’s hand, “we can go as slow as you need to. I hope you didn’t feel like I’d have expected anything to happen today?
I know I said earlier that I only did one-night stands in the past, but I’ve not been that person in years.
” Ivy searched Cleo’s face for any sign of relief and wished she could take the remnants of sadness from Cleo’s eyes and replace it with a much happier emotion. At least a less painful one.
“Thank you,” Cleo breathed out a little as she said it in barely more than a whisper.
“I figured there were no expectations today given how bashful you seemed to be before.” Cleo smirked, and Ivy felt her face burn with embarrassment.
“I just wanted to let you know where my head is before we go any further.”
Ivy sat the picnic basket down at her feet and reached for Cleo’s other hand.
She held Cleo’s gaze for a moment and hoped that they would convey the sincerity she meant as she spoke.
“I can wait as long as you need to. We’ll go at whatever speed you choose.
I just really want to get to know you more.
” Ivy noticed Cleo’s shoulders relax, and as the tension ebbed away, so did the sadness that had lingered in her eyes at her admission of old hurts. Ivy sighed a small relief.
“Thank you, again.” Cleo took a small step forward.
“I want to get to know you too.” With that, she leaned forward, hesitating for a moment above Ivy’s cheek, then placed the softest of kisses against her skin that Ivy had ever felt.
In that moment, if this was her last, Ivy was the happiest she had been in her entire life.