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Scare you off?

Ilean backand blow the errant strands of hair out of my face. Mellie is right. There is only one way to know for sure.

LolaB:

Okay.

ThatGuy:

Okay?

LolaB:

Yep. Okay.

ThatGuy:

I didn’t think you’d say yes.

LolaB:

I can change my mind if you’d like.

ThatGuy:

Not a chance. You’ve already agreed. That’s a binding verbal contract.

LolaB:

Then I guess I’d better start getting ready.

ThatGuy:

Don’t forget the book.

LolaB:

What book?

ThatGuy:

Pride and Prejudice. I’ll bring the rose.

Ilook up at Mellie. “Just like Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly.”

33

Lola

Capparelli’s is only aboutfive blocks from my apartment. In a city this big, that’s like hitting the lottery.

The Uber driver picks me up, and I wonder if I should have asked ThatGuy for more information. That was always the plan, but those plans fell apart when I agreed on a spur of the moment meeting.

“We’re here,” the driver says.

I blink and stare out at the sidewalk. That was fast. Too fast. My head is light, and my fingers are weak when I thank him and reach for the door handle.

This is a nice area, and I know the coffee shop is a popular one even though I’ve never been. I’m five minutes late already, so there isn’t really additional time to settle my nerves before I venture inside. The scent of freshly ground coffee tickles my nose when I walk through the door.