Page 10 of Restored By You

Cup O’ Joe isn’t exactly what I envisioned when Callie told me the local café had the best coffee she had ever tasted. The place is…smaller than I expected. Although, the whole town is smaller than I expected when I got here.

Tyler also seems skeptical. “This is it?” he deadpans, freeing his seatbelt and letting it smack the door with a clang. “I thought you said this place was like Starbucks.”

I sigh. This kid is impossible to please.

My father’s assistant set us up with a two-bedroom suite at the resort for the next two months. Complete with 24/7 room service at no charge and all-access passes to any events and amenities the resort has to offer. It’s a free vacation, and all this kid can talk about is where the closest Starbucks is.

Spoiler: it’s over an hour away…

“Grab the camera,” I tell him as we get out of the rental my father’s assistant also set up for us. A sleek, brand-new, fully loaded Escalade in pearl white. To say he’s trying to impress his new stepson is an understatement given he’s never done anything like this for me. A discount to stay at his resorts, sure, but not a six-week, all expenses paid vacation alongside a few lame hours of online classes during the week.

Tyler grabs the simple camera I bought specifically for this project after some research online about what the popular YouTubers use. I really wanted something more portable for this project, raw and unfiltered. And at the end of each day, I have my editor back in LA on standby, ready to start piecing this pilot together.

The moment we step through the front door of Cup O’ Joe, a bell above the door dings our arrival alongside the scent of freshly roasted coffee. The smell envelops me in a way that nearly has me in tears it smells so dang good.

That, and the sight of my best friend whom I haven’t seen in almost four months since her latest movie premiere.

“Shea!” Callie beams, leaping out of her seat by the window and rushing over to me. Her short, blonde waves bouncing and her service dog—a big German Shepherd named Hulk—bounding beside her.

We squeal the moment our arms wrap around one another. “Oh, my god! I missed you,” I breathe, squeezing her tight. I hold her at arm’s length for our usual fashion inspection. Her new cowgirl boots catch my eye immediately. “Stop it right now.”

“I know, right?” She laughs, hiking up her jeans to show me. “Beau got them for me. We have matching boots now, if you’d believe it.”

I shake my head, smiling as I recall the surly, ex-military man who swept her off her feet somehow. It certainly wasn’t with his charm. “I seriously don’t,” I say, stepping to the side to reveal my newest appendage. “And this is Tyler, the one I was telling you about.” My smile is strained as he stands slouched, staring at his phone like I dragged him to a stranger’s funeral. “Tyler, this is my best friend, Callie. Callie, meet…Tyler.”

He looks up from his phone, camera bag slung over one shoulder.

Callie’s expression softens as she extends a hand. “It’s so good to finally meet you. Shea’s told me all about you.”

Tyler shakes her hand with an unimpressed grunt.

When he doesn’t offer anything else, she says, “Right, well, did you guys want to get something to drink? They have a great bakery section as well. Their raspberry danishes are so good. Did you eat?”

I quickly pull out my wallet and hand Tyler my card. “Here. Get me a large, caramel latte with a shot of espresso and one of those danishes, please. Do you want anything, Cals?” I ask.

She waves a hand at the table beside us where her drink and half-eaten pastry sit. “Way ahead of you.”

I nod to the counter, eyeing Tyler. “Get whatever you want.”

Tyler stares at the card. “You want me to order?”

“You have a mouth. Use it.”

He rolls his eyes, but turns away, heading for the counter.

I settle into the booth across from Callie as we watch him get in line. “He’s…fun,” she comments.

“He’s exhausting,” I correct, dropping my head into my hands. “I love my dad, and I respect his personal life and all, but I genuinely don’t understand how this is my life right now.”

She laughs with a little shrug. “What is life if not an inconvenient adventure?”

I snort. “Okay, Miss Screenwriter.”

She smiles. “Don’t deflect,” she starts, leaning forward, her eyes dancing. “What happened last night? I never heard back from you after Rhett got there.”

I take a deep breath at the very mention of the owner of those forearms. “It was an eventful first night to say the least.”

“Well, first of all, are you okay? The water situation sounded…”