Page 18 of A Cup of Autumn
“Not necessary, but thanks.” He motioned to an empty table in the corner. “I’ll be working over there if you need someone to refill cups. As you’ve seen, I’ve got mad pouring skills.”
And a massive ego.
Having three older brothers who were a professor, lawyer, and surgeon must have driven Callie crazy. Raine had new respect for her friend, though her siblings might be why the doggy daycare owner preferred dogs to most people.
Raine laughed. “You do.”
She wouldn’t ask to use those skills of his again. Someone like Keaton Andrews would never lower himself to work in a coffee shop.
For the best.
She was finished with people who thought they were better than others or wanted more than what she loved.
For Emmett, it had been this town until he’d decided she no longer fit into his future. For Keaton, it was her profession.
Why couldn’t people see the value in what others appreciated? Why did it have to be their priorities to the exclusion of everyone else’s?
She didn’t get it.
Chapter Four
At the coffeeshop, Keaton rubbed his eyes. He’d been staring at his computer screen for thirty minutes. His job search showed nothing new while he’d been offline driving to Silver Falls.
I should be teaching my course right now.
It was true, but someone else was doing that.
Which meant his focus was on the job search and his manuscript.
As the first week turned into a second, he’d gotten less picky over the jobs he would apply for. But his holy grail would be a visiting instructor position. That would see him through the school year. A temporary job would give him additional time to look for a permanent spot at a tier-one university. Though after talking to friends at other schools, finding a tenure-track position might be a long shot.
No reason to get discouraged.
Keaton closed his laptop. Today was his first full day in Silver Falls. He couldn’t expect a change in location to bring a miracle. Even if deep inside, he wanted that to happen.
Overall, his Monday was going well. He’d stopped off at Taryn’s bakery for a cookie and said hello to her staff. Even though Jayden had offered a coffee, Keaton said no. Lawson’s couldn’t compete with Raine’s coffee.
He sipped his drink. Lukewarm but delicious. The pumpkin spice flavoring was growing on him. The smiley face in the milk brought a grin to his face.
Keaton glanced at the counter, but a customer blocked his view of Raine. He’d see her plenty given Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans was where he planned to work on his book. The coffee and the Wi-Fi were as strong as he remembered. And the price was cheaper than in L.A. Good given his current budget.
He downed what remained in his cup.
Might need to order another.
Margot worked at the quilt shop until five. Her dogs—Angus and Sadie—were at Callie’s doggy daycare and wouldn’t be home until Margot picked them up. That left an empty house for Keaton.
He’d enjoyed the quiet, but after two hours the silence had gotten to him, reminding him of his last day at the university and that he wasn’t there for the start of fall quarter. No need to return to the empty house. He might as well work on his book.
Keaton opened his laptop and opened the file.
Mom’s suggestion to work on the manuscript had been a good one. The prose was in better shape than he recalled. Most of all, he was proud of what he’d created. He’d started it after that fateful class freshman year changed his major and his life.
The story, a love letter to Norwegian folklore, featured trolls fromTrold-Tindterneand theálfar. The elves were crucial to the story.
He’d queried an agent to seek representation. Worse come to worse, he could investigate publishing the book himself. After his quest for tenure died a premature death and he’d lost his job, he’d been nothing more than a passenger adrift in the Stadhavet Sea on a boat with no rudder or compass.
He touched his laptop.
