Page 38 of How To Not Need You

Instead, I’m smiling at a photo of a cat in a boot.

I am so completely fucked.

Harper drops into the chair opposite me. She doesn't look at my phone. She looks at my laptop. Then at the coffee I'd forgotten to drink. Then back at me.

"You've been staring at the same logo for ten minutes."

I glance at the clock on the screen. "Has it been that long?"

"Longer."

"Right."

Then Harper smirks. "Jake?"

“Shut up,” I say, with no anger in my voice.

I turn when I hear Mia’s voice. "You sure you don't need me?" she asks Luca.

Luca waves her towards the door. "We've got it from here."

She glances towards the growing collection of chairs. "I still think you're starting a cult."

"It's only a cult if there are matching robes."

"I'll keep an eye out."

Luca laughs. "Go home, Mia."

She grabs her bag, calls out a cheerful, "See you tomorrow!" to everyone still inside, and disappears through the front door.

The moment she's gone, Luca claps his hands together. "Right."

He immediately begins dragging tables into a long rectangle. Harper doesn't even look up from her coffee.

"You know we're just going to move their chairs wherever we want."

"It's about setting an intention."

Harper scoffs in disbelief at his response. "It's about making you feel useful."

Luca pauses thoughtfully. "Maybe."

The bell over the door jingles. Elsie walks in, shrugging off her cardigan. She looks strangely rested. I blink in surprise.

"Where are the twins?"

A grin spreads across her face. “It’s Daniel's weekend."

Harper raises an eyebrow. "The camping trip?"

Elsie visibly shudders at the very thought. "The camping trip."

"I still can't believe he volunteered."

"I can." She moves behind the counter to make herself a coffee. "He thinks it's going to be a wholesome father-child bonding experience."

We all wait for her to continue on her riveting story, which I think all of us agree, sounds like a nightmare.