Chapter Thirty-Five #2
We prop the door open, and Skyler and I dash behind the counter. I come up to the till just in time to see my parents’ faces as they walk into the shop. They beam as they look around, taking in the eclectic, rustic design before setting their eyes on me.
My mom blinks away her tears. “Lola, it’s beautiful. I’m so proud of you, honey.”
My dad strides up to the counter. “I’ll have a coffee, black and a latte for your mother.”
Roman comes up behind him. “He fought me for first customer rights.”
“Damn right I did,” my dad bristles. “And we’ll have two of those apple fries thingies too. I don’t know what they are, but the smell is making my mouth water.”
My smile makes my cheeks hurt. “Coming right up.”
Roman hooks his arms over my shoulders and I lean back against his chest, looking out over the counter at the bustling coffee shop.
“You happy?”
I spent the last two hours manically serving little paper cones of apple fries and making drinks. My feet ache, I’m covered in sugar and cinnamon, and my cheeks hurt from smiling. “So happy.”
Skyler nudges me as she puts the lid on a coffee. “Go, talk to your customers. I’ve got the counter for a while.”
“You sure?”
Roman unties my apron and snags my hand. “She’s sure. Thanks, Skyler.”
Skyler smirks as Roman drags me away. I’m about to say hi to Beli, who’s on her third cone of apple fries, when the bell dings and Mase ducks inside.
I squeeze Roman’s hand. “Give me a second?”
He follows my gaze and nods. “I’m right here if you need me.”
I weave through the customers and hug my brother like I used to when I was little. “You came.”
He ruffles my hair. “Of course I came.” His breath puffs against the top of my head. “I can’t believe you own a coffee shop.”
“Yeah, join the club.” It still doesn’t feel quite real, though my aching legs are slowly making me a believer.
“Listen, Lo,” Mase says as we break apart. “I want to thank you for the other night. I’ve been a crappy brother lately and, well, just thank you I guess.”
My eyes sting. “No thanks needed.”
Mase rubs the back of his neck. “So, uh, I’m going to go to rehab. My old army captain put me in touch with a good facility for PTSD. I called them yesterday.”
My rib cage loosens, even as my heart pangs for my brother and everything he’s going through. “That’s really good, Mase. When do you leave?”
“This afternoon.”
My cheekbones ache and I wrap my arms around his waist. “Do you want apple fries?” I squeak.
“What the fuck are apple fries?”
I laugh and lead him over to Skyler. The tip jar on the counter is filling up fast and I take a moment just to stare at it. I was willing to take a loss today as part of my masterplan to get everyone addicted to apple fries but at this point the tips alone are going to cover the costs.
“Hey Lola,” Cooper calls and I tell my brother I’ll catch him later before joining Cooper, Huxley, and Hux’s little sister Brynlee over by the world map. “I have a question.”
I raise an indulgent brow, “Yes, Cooper?”
He pulls back his shoulders and drops to one knee, apple fry cone in hand. “Will you marry me and have my babies? Because these are the best things I’ve ever eaten and I need them in my life daily.”
I laugh but Roman just scowls as he comes up behind me and links his hands in front of my stomach. “She’s taken.”
“Yeah, but I have rizz,” Cooper argues.
Brynlee groans. “I regret teaching you that.”
Cooper stands up, nodding all serious. “No cap, for real though.”
Brynlee cringes like only a teenager can. “That’s not even how you use it.”
I laugh softly. “Hey, Brynlee, feel free to escape up to my apartment for a while.”
Her eyes light up, the dark brown curls she got from her birth mother, bobbing around her face. “Seriously?”
I pass her the keys, and she skips off behind the counter.
Once she’s gone, Roman reaches out to shake hands with Hux. “Thanks for coming, man. I’m sorry to hear about Archer.”
Roman had told me that Jarred’s business partner and pseudo-father figure died suddenly last week and I tangle my fingers with Roman’s.
Huxley’s usually vibrant eyes are dulled, his smile forced. “Appreciate it. Bryn’s putting on a brave face but it’s hit her kind of hard because of what happened to her birth parents and Jarred wanted to be here but he’s taking some time out. He said he’ll pop by in a couple weeks when he’s back.”
“I’d like that,” I whisper.
“Who’s running the business while he’s away?” Roman asks.
Huxley rocks back on his heels. “That would be me.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Hey, I can run a business. I do run a business.”
Hux owns the surf school down on Surfer’s Bay, but he’s always been the most laid-back North brother so I know what Roman means when he smirks and says, “Uh huh, knowing you, you’ll end up renting a cabin to his worst enemy.”
Hux brings his coffee to his lips and grins. “That, or his childhood crush.”
Roman’s phone buzzes and I tilt my head back to see him frown as he reads the message. “What’s the matter?” I ask.
His jaw hardens, and he holds me tighter. “That was O’Connor. Apparently, Carson made bail this morning.”
My bones crack. “He wouldn’t come here. Not today. Not with all these people.” My breath catches in my lungs though because Rob Carson destroyed my shop, Rob Carson raped me. And he thinks I ruined his life. There could be a million witnesses, and he wouldn’t care.
Roman’s hand strokes my hip as I twist in his arms. “It’s going to be fine.”
I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Hey, hey.” Roman tilts my chin up and I open my eyes. “I’m not going to let him hurt you, d’you hear me?”
I grip onto his shirt, the familiar starched material grounding me. I nod.
Roman kisses me, fast and sure. “I’m going to go out front and call O’Connor, see if he can come park outside the shop for a while. You stay here, okay?”
“Take Hux,” I say.
They both nod and I watch them head to the front door.
Everything feels like it’s happening around me while I’m stuck in the middle.
I know the chances of Rob coming here are low, but I can’t help thinking he doesn’t have anything else to lose.
He’s already going back to prison and if my stupid reckless self has done anything to jeopardize today, I’m never going to forgive myself.
Echoes of smoke are thick in my nostrils and panic seizes my chest. Then I remember the gate out back and the lock I still haven’t fixed.
Shit.
I dodge behind the counter and slip out the back door, only breathing again when I find the space empty.
I close my eyes, my legs turning to jelly. I rest my arms against the lid of the dumpster, needing a moment before I go back inside. It’s quiet out here, the chatter coming from inside the shop a low hum in the summer air. A bird sings. A car passes.
The hinge on the gate creeks.
I spin around, my eyes flying open and my arms up.
And then I see who it is.
“Oh my god!” I fling myself at Scott, throwing my arms around his neck till he stumbles back. “You scared the living daylights out of me, what are you doing here?”
Scott grins. “Surprise? I take it you missed me.”
I squeeze harder and squeal. “I can’t believe you’re actually here! How did you even find the shop? Never mind, it doesn’t matter, you have to come inside, you’re going to love it.”
“Woah, woah, woah. Slow down,” Scott chuckles.
I bite down on my smile. “Sorry, I’m just excited. I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.”
Scott shifts his feet and slides his hand into the pocket of his hoodie. It’s too hot to be wearing a sweater but he’s probably come straight from the airport. “Why don’t we go for a walk first? Give us a chance to catch up.”
“I would but I’m kind of in the middle of my shop opening. Come inside though, you can join.”
Scott eyes the back door and wets his lips. “In a minute, yeah? Let’s just walk for a bit.”
I cock my head, something about this starting to feel wrong. Scott should be in Paris with his new girlfriend. “Is Michelle here?”
“Uh, no.” His eyes shift. “Come on, Lo, just come with me.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
Scott lets out a frustrated breath and steps towards me. “It’s not safe for you here. Just come with me, okay?”
“Scott, I’m fine. It’s fine, I know I probably worried you, but everything is okay. Carson’s been arrested again.”
Wild blond hair flies as Scott shakes his head. “He set fire to your sign, Lola. He trashed your shop.”
I blink at Scott. “How did you know my shop was trashed?” I ask, because I never told him that.
Scott works his jaw, sticking out his chin before sighing. Something in his eyes changes. “I really wish you’d just come with me,” he says and then he grabs me.
His arm hooks around my waist and my brain is working too slow to fight him. Because this is Scott. He’s my friend. None of it makes sense and by the time I go to scream Scott’s hand is over my mouth, a soft rag in his palm.
I breathe in on instinct, chemicals bitter in my mouth. Finally, I struggle but my mind goes hazy and my body refuses to move.
“It’s alright, I’ve got you. I’ll keep you safe.” Scott’s words whisper against my ear but I’m not safe.
I don’t think I’ve been safe in a very long time because somewhere in the recesses of my mind I realize that Paris isn’t that far from London and suddenly I’m sure, Roman’s father didn’t send me those messages.