Page 46 of A Cup of Autumn
He sat at his usual corner table with a nearby plug in case his computer’s battery ran out of juice. Not that he’d brought the laptop today. He’d left it and the Boo Bash stuff on Margot’s dining room table to return to later.
Someone set a cup on his table. “It’s a Pumpkin Spice Double Shot on Ice.”
He recognized Raine’s voice. She stood next to him.
Keaton picked up the cup. “Pulling out all the stops today to make sure I don’t fall asleep tonight.”
Her closed-mouth smile was too mischievous to be compared to Mona Lisa’s. “Customer service at its finest.”
“Such modesty.”
“You’re one to talk.” She sounded amused.
He deserved that. “You’ve got me. Callie’s the only one who got that gene in our family, but I’m not as bad as my brothers or parents.”
Keaton’s joke fell flat, but he didn’t think Raine noticed. He’d been the same or worse than Mom, Dad, Flynn, and Garrett. Losing his job made Keaton see himself differently. His world, too.
He’d grown up with wealthy, successful parents, who paid for his education without blinking an eye. He’d had zero student loans and as much financial help as he wanted. Success was assumed and expected from a young age. But there’d been parental support for as long as he’d known it existed. Add in growing up in Beverly Hills…
The definition of privilege.
The university had been one more bubble world where he’d been a guppy but had zero doubt he’d grow into a koi.
But he no longer felt invincible. His certainty in his plans and himself had been shaken to the core. He’d believed everything he wanted would happen. Now, not so much.
“You’ve only been in town for five days. I’ll need a few more data points,” Raine teased. “Robin has to leave, so I need to get back.”
“Are you working alone for the rest of the day?”
“Timmy will be here in an hour.” The lines on Raine’s forehead returned, and Keaton wanted them to disappear somehow. “Do you need me for something?”
“Yes.” The word slipped out. Keaton fought the urge to grimace. “I mean, no. It can wait. Until you have more time.”
“Okay.” She returned to the counter.
What was wrong with him?
He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. At least he’d have time to think of what to ask Raine other than his original question—if she wanted to get together before this weekend.
That hadn’t been in reference to the Boo Bash. Keaton wasn’t ready to present his proposals. He had wanted to make her feel better. A night out where she could forget about the coffee shop and the Boo Bash would do the trick.
But Keaton couldn’t.
Untrue.
He could, but he shouldn’t.
Raine was his opposite in many ways. He was supposed to be helping her with the event, not trying to get her to relax and have fun and spend more time with him.
Yet, a part of him still wanted that. He just had no idea why.
*
Raine made Keatona different pumpkin spice drink. One without two espresso shots that would keep him awake all night. She swirled whipped cream on top and stuck in a straw. This drink was more of a dessert, but a few calories shouldn’t matter. “I’m going to deliver this.”
“Take a break while you’re there.” Timmy worked on an iced latte. “There’s no line, and you might not get another chance until later.”
“Sometimes I wonder who’s the boss around here.”
