Page 76 of Cocky Brutal Sinner

“Uh-huh.” I nod, sincerely at a loss for anything clever to say in response.

“And you work here?” Giulia asks.

“She’s my boss,” Trevor blurts. “She owns it. I–I work here, and I want to help you with whatever you need.”

“I was looking for the napkins,” Giulia says, gesturing to the table behind her. My stomach promptly drops to the floor because Alessandra Bishop is sitting right there, nibbling on a croissant and sipping a cappuccino.

“I’ll get the napkins!” Trevor says eagerly. He bends down to open a cabinet, pulling out what looks like a pile of fifty napkins for Giulia. Great. Even my nerdy student worker prefers Giulia to me.

“Right.” I straighten my shirt and pull my shoulders back. “I should go say hello.”

I move out from behind the counter and walk over to Beau’s mother with a smile. “Hello, Mrs. Bishop.”

Alessandra looks up at me. I can see the gears in her head working as she slowly remembers who I am. Every second of silence twists a knife into my heart. She barely knows who I am, let alone what I mean to her son. I’m nothing more than a footnote in her life.

“You’re Luke’s sister!” she says finally. “How nice to see you. I wanted to show Giulia the cutest little bookshop-café, and I had no idea you worked here!”

“I own it,” I grit out. “This is my place.”

“It’s so lovely!” Giulia says warmly. “The atmosphere is so cozy, even though it’s a rather large space. I can see why people come back here.”

Damn it, Giulia, why do you have to be so fucking nice? “Thank you. That was the goal.”

She takes a sip of her latte and her nose wrinkles slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Alessandra asks immediately, because she’s apparently attuned to Giulia’s every move.

“Nothing,” Giulia says. “I just asked for almond milk, and I think this is regular. It’s fine, I’ll just drink this.”

“Nonsense! I’m sure Brinley would be happy to make you another one.” Alessandra gives me a curt smile, leaving me no choice but to take Giulia’s cup.

“Of course,” I say. “Let me get you another one right away.”

I go back behind the counter and start up the espresso machine. Hot tears well in my eyes, and I beg my body to please not let them fall just yet.

As I froth the almond milk, a blurred blonde figure appears at my side. Eden, of course, though she looks blob-like through my tears.

“Tell me that’s not who I think it is,” she says in a low whisper.

“It is,” I mutter.

“I can’t fucking believe Giulia’s here. Want me to spit in her coffee?”

Eden’s loyalty should make me feel loved and supported. Instead, it just makes me feel worse for wanting to hate a perfectly nice woman. “No. It’s not her fault.”

“She’s got her eyes on your man, Brin! Stake your claim!”

Eden’s voice gets a little too loud and I glare at her. Realizing, she mimes zipping her lips.

“Why don’t you go straighten out the books in the romance section?” I mutter. Romance is featured prominently at the front of the store, as far away from the café tables as possible. Eden sighs and does as I say.

Because the truth is, Beau’s not my man. As far as the world knows, I have no claim on him. Giulia is his mother’s choice, and on paper, she’s perfect for him. She’s gorgeous, sweet, speaks fluent Italian, and they have the whole cooking thing in common. And me? I’m just the girl making her coffee.

When I walked back to their table, Alessandra’s standing and putting on a chic light jacket. Giulia accepts her new coffee with a smile.

“It seems I’ll have to take this to go,” she says apologetically. “Mama Bishop had a delivery that came early, and we need to go sign for it. It’s a shame, I was hoping to browse your books for a bit.”

“You can always come back,” Alessandra says. “After all, you’re going to be in Toronto for a long time.”