Page 3 of Say Hello, Kiss Goodbye

The clerk grimaced, his eyes darting from his terminal to the growing crowd of shoppers waiting to pay. “Our card system isn’t working. The power cut must’ve screwed it up.”

A flash of yellow and blue—the store manager—swooped in. “The network’s down. Not just us, most of Tottenham.” He met Leia’s eyes. “We can only accept cash right now.”

“But…” Leia pursed her lips. “I’m lucky if I have a five-pound note.”

Jamming the magic kit in his shopping bag, the unicorn whisperer leaned over his fluffy prize. “Hey mate, any idea how long it’ll be down?”

The manager shook his head. “If you want to wait”—he pointed over his shoulder—“you can grab a complimentary tea or coffee in our bistro, but you’ll have to take your items with you so cash-paying customers can come through.”

“Ah, bollocks.” The guy huffed and raked a hand through his tousled auburn hair, falling just shy of his narrowed eyes.

Leia scowled in solidarity, spinning a gold band on the fourth finger of her right hand. All this way and I can’t pay? Great. Fucking great.

The manager strode toward the waiting throng and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Excuse me, everyone…” His booming voice elbowed into conversations, his cash-only news deflating the post-blackout glee.

Shaking her head, Leia returned Sarah’s New Year’s Eve necessities to the store-issued shopping bag. “Well, I have no choice, then.” She tucked her wallet away and looked at the sales clerk. “Will someone come get us when it’s working?”

“Definitely.” With an apologetic wince, his large glasses slipped down his nose. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Leia gave him a tight-lipped smile. “It’s not your fault.” Hoisting the heavy bag onto her shoulder, she stepped out of line, not sure where to go. She wandered toward the occupied benches near the exit, a gust of chilly, damp air whooshing around the sliding doors.

“Worst timing ever, eh?” The posh voice turned her head. Plush dinosaur aloft, Star Wars guy wedged the huge unicorn under his arm, his attention straying back to the checkout, searching.

“God yeah.” Shivering, Leia tugged her unzipped parka closed around her dress as loud voices spewed their discontent at the besieged staff. Where should I wait? “I have somewhere I need to be, but I can’t leave without this stuff.” She gave the stranger a head-to-toe sweep while he looked elsewhere. Messy hair and whiskers aside, he’s well-groomed, confident—extremely attractive. Bet he knows it, too.

He glanced at Leia. “I don’t want to come back either.” His frown released as the two little boys raced past. “Hey, guys, hold up a second!” His greeting was drowned out by their gleeful shouts about ice cream and the snarky complaints of several shoppers pushing past.

Oh? Those boys are his?

He followed the twins toward the bistro, shooting Leia a quick grin. “I’m dying for a coffee. Want one?” He nodded to the small seating area, which was filling up quickly. “Claim a seat before the hordes descend?”

Leia smiled softly at his upside-down unicorn, squished and peeking out from under his arm. Toys—for his twins. A dull ache wrapped around her heart, but it was overtaken by pain searing through her right leg, short-circuiting all thoughts of children and small talk. She sucked in a sharp breath and adjusted the weight on her shoulder. Keep standing and my knee will be a mess tonight. She looked past the guy’s unicorn, past his mussed-up hair, windswept from the storm outside, to the few remaining chairs. I need to sit down. Just don’t tell hot Star Wars dad my name. “Yeah, okay.”

His face lit up. “Brilliant! After you.” He shifted his bag’s weight, keeping it close as they moved through the crowd. “Oh, wait. Where are my manners?” He stopped and tucked the dinosaur into his bag. “Hello, I’m Tarquin.” He offered his right hand.

Oh, crap! Leia’s stomach sank to the floor. Introductions? How very British. She forced a smile as the Star Wars theme blasted from his trouser pocket. Shit! Worst timing ever.

“Oh, sorry! Just gotta…” Tarquin fought with his pocket, tugging his phone free.

Eyes wide, she looked over her shoulder, her fingers toying with the rose gold bracelet on her left wrist that she never took off. The checkout was choked with irate shoppers going nowhere and the sliding glass exit was stuck, inviting an umbrella-decapitating surge of wind and icy rain into the store.

I can’t leave. I can’t escape Star Wars hell. Leia glanced at Tarquin again. But I can change how I react. Be grateful this guy’s helping you grab a seat. She zeroed in on his left hand as he pressed the red ‘decline’ button. He’s got kids but no wedding ring. His boys must’ve been born before he was twenty. He can’t be much older than me.

Stuffing his phone back in his pocket, he extended his free hand once more. “Where were we?”

Use the old standby. Tell him your name is Lisa. Taking a deep breath, Leia reached out. “I’m—”

“Excuse me! Miss?”

Leia spotted the hipster checkout clerk striding toward her, reading something in his palm. “Miss Scott?” He pushed his glasses up his nose with his index finger. Then, she saw it in his grasp—her credit card. “Leia Scott?”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Leia?!” Tarquin’s voice soared, joining his brows in reaching for the ceiling.

Giving the employee a nod and a “Thank you,” Leia swallowed heavily, cursing her luck.

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