Page 22 of Espresso Your Love
“He’s new to town and now, my neighbor. I’ve been polite and welcoming.”
She points to her lips and mumbles as she begins putting the snacks on the counter.
I roll my eyes.Her antics drive me crazy.I walk over to her and unlock her lips.
Her mumbles turn into words. “You have been. But I think you’re resistant to it becoming more.”
“I am not. He’s probably not interested, and I’m just really busy right now with the Autumn Festival.”
She pours a bag of popcorn into a bowl. “I’m pretty sure he is interested. And you told me yourself that you thought he was nice and cute. Whynotgo for it?”
“I just don’t think now is the right time. Maybe when things slow down after the festival.”
“Life never slows down, Cass. You just gotta go for it!”
“And what about you, huh?”
“What about me?”
“Anyone who you might want to becomemorewith?” I steal a piece of popcorn from her.
“Let’s start the movie!”
“Mhm. You should listen to yourself.”
“Okay, let’s do it together then. You be open for something to happen and I will too. Deal?” She holds her hand out.
I hesitate then shake her hand. “Deal.”
And I’ll keep my deal—I’ll be open, but I won’t pursue; I won’t start anything. I’ll just sit here, and if something happens, it happens.Love finds you when you least expect it, isn’t that what they say? So I’ll just not expect it, and if it happens, then so be it.
I’ll still be keeping my deal with Ash and my deal to myself. No swooning over the police officer, now neighbor, co-worker, handsome newcomer. Oh man, handsome just slipped in there. I’m already failing at the deal to myself. I couldn’t even last one day; how am I going to last weeks until the Autumn Festival? I’m doomed.
The doorbell rings again, and I sneak a quick glance through the peephole. Relief floods over me as I see Charity and Hope.
“We brought desserts and lots of them!” Hope announces cheerfully as she holds up a large cookie tray.
“Perfect. Sugar therapy is exactly what I need right now.” I sigh, feeling the weight of everything start to lift off my shoulders.
I don’t need to think about the festival tasks or Ryan tonight. Just me and my girls. I close the door behind them and start arranging the snacks on my dining table. Cookies, cake pops, caramel popcorn, chips, and every treat possible seems to be here in my house.
“Yes! Desserts!” Ashley skips over and steals a cookie off the tray. “Hot cocoa is almost ready.”
“Thanks for tonight.” Hope grins. “We were due for a girls’ night.”
“Especially after the chicken incident.” Charity’s eyes widen comically. “I still can’t believe that happened.”
“What incident?” Ash asks, her mouth still full of cookie.
“I didn’t hear about anything either,” I chime in curiously. Normally, Madame Cs spread everything like wildfire.
“A chicken took over the bakery!” Hope exclaims, laughter bubbling out of her. “It was terrorizing customers, and we had to call it in.”
“And then Ethan Mitchell and the new town heartthrob, Ryan Hayes, saved the day,” Charity adds with a mischievous glint in her eye.
I look over to Ash and awkwardly chuckle. “Wow, sounds like an eventful day.”
“I guess that’s just life in Meadowbrook.” Charity and Hope’s laughter fills my kitchen as I grab plates and mugs from the cabinet.
