Page 71 of Between the Lines

“Anyway,” Eddie continues, “you must have one hell of a manager if you’re doing all this for them,” He swings his head towards the house.

“I do,” I reply, “she’s the reason I won the award in the first place if I’m being honest. Without her, Good Grinds wouldn’t be on the map the way it is.”

“Huh.” Eddie smirks, wiggling his baseball cap. “Well, then don’t be an idiot.”

I glance at him, lips agape.

“Make sure she feels appreciated.” He points his finger at my chest. “And don’t let her get away.”

“I hear you.” I nod, running a hand through my hair, growing hotter as we stand here. “I’ll let you get back to it, thanks again.”

While the cool air blast on my face in the Jeep, I take a moment to check my email. There’s a new one from Wilmington Life magazine. The subject line alone causes my stomach to leap into my damn chest.

Last day for award recipients to RSVP to this weekend’s dinner!

I stare at the large oak tree in front of me as my palm slides roughly over my stubbled jawline, my leg bouncing erratically.

I shift into drive, my mind made up.

I don’t head towards home though. First, there’s something I need to do.

There’s a hundred and one reasons I shouldn’t go into the coffee shop today. It makes no logical sense to fight Monday morning traffic and downtown festival goers just to get into my alleyway parking spot, but that’s exactly what I do.

I’ve been doing a lot of things that don’t make much sense lately. Because of Fia.

After running into her and Daisy in the yard Friday morning, I didn’t see her again all weekend. She kept to herself, and I kept myself falsely busy too.

My heart races as I jump out of the Jeep and weave through the patio full of customers, straight towards the door. The only thing propelling me down the cool brick hallway, straight to the barista counter, is her.

I’m not even phased by the customers propping open the front door, letting all the cool air out with the line wrapped down the sidewalk.

As I stand amongst people waiting for their orders, I find her. The redhead behind the counter, helping a new hire make a stupidly complicated drink. She smiles patiently, laughing, unaware I’m even here. She is wearing those tiny shorts with daisies again, and it makes me that much more enamored.

Fia lets out an easy laugh that cuts through the noise, but when she turns around and catches me watching, the paper cup she was holding slips straight from her hand.

A small smile tugs at her glossy pink lips, and I nod my chin up at her.

“Fia—I need to see you in my office,” I call out over the chatter.

I don’t wait for an answer before turning on my heel and walking back to my office. I leave the door slightly cracked, knowing she’ll be following soon.

There’s no reason to sit down at my desk, what I need to say to her will only take a minute.

Fia walks in moments later, hands folded together over her hips, her eyes searching. “Is everything okay?” Fia asks, crinkling her brow. “I didn’t get to look at the photos you sent yet, we’ve been slammed . . .”

“Yeah, everything’s good.” I let out a tiny laugh. Eddie’s conversation replays in my head.

Don’t let her get away then.

“Eddie’s crew is doing what I paid them to do, work is flawless, all good there,” I add, knowing she likes a lot of reassurance.

Fia sighs, looking relieved, but her green gaze finds me again.

I swallow, standing up straighter, and ask her what I should’ve a week ago, if I wouldn’t have let fear get in the way.

“Do you have plans on Saturday night, after your family lunch?”

Her cheeks flush and lips part—lips I haven’t been able to push from my mind.