Page 70 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“What if I volunteer there with you, and then we go to my dad’s together after?”
“I…” Lauren pursed her lips, still not meeting Mia’s eyes.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to. I just wanted to ask. My dad called this morning and started talking about Thanksgiving, and he asked if I would be bringing anyone.” Mia paused. “Although we don’t have to tell him we’re dating. You could just come as my friend if that takes some of the pressure off.”
“Maybe.” Lauren finally looked up. “Look, the truth is that I’ve never really done a family Thanksgiving before. We had turkey when I was a kid if my mom was sober enough to remember to buy one, but it was never anything like those scenes you see on TV.”
“Then you should definitely come.” Mia reached out and covered Lauren’s hand in hers. “My dad and Addie do a TV-worthy spread, but it’s all very casual. Lots of food. Lots of laughter. Lots of people. Absolutely no expectations. Plus, it means you get to spend the holiday with me.”
“Well, I don’t see how I could possibly say no to that.”
* * *
Mia spenta restless night at her apartment without Lauren, and consequently, she wasn’t in the best mood as she opened the café on Sunday morning. It was silly how much she missed Lauren already, even though she knew logically that this was a good move for them both. Lauren needed her own space, and it was healthy to have a certain amount of separation as they settled into a relationship together.
If they’d kept on as they were, working and living together while newly dating, it might have blown up in their faces. Not to mention, it was awkward relationship-wise for Lauren to be sleeping on the couch. If—or hopefullywhen—Lauren moved back in, she’d be sharing Mia’s bed.
Mia grumbled under her breath as she cleaned up after the cats, freshened their food, water, and litter, and swept the café area before she opened it to customers. This was one of her least favorite parts of the job and one she passed off to her employees whenever possible.
When Lauren opened with her, she always seemed so cheerful as she greeted the cats and cleaned up whatever messes they’d made overnight. She seemed to genuinely love every moment she spent here in the café…maybe more than Mia did.
Cleo, a new cat who’d arrived a few days ago, trotted over to greet Mia with a loud meow.
“You’ve certainly settled right in, haven’t you?” Mia said as she gave her a chin rub. Cleo purred, tail stuck straight up in the air as she twined herself around Mia’s legs. “You won’t be here long.”
Mia gave her another pet and then went down the hall to the bathroom to wash her hands before she prepared the café counter for opening. Jordy was there when Mia came back out, warming up the espresso machine. “Morning,” Mia said.
“Morning.” Jordy tied their apron around their waist and began unboxing today’s selection of pastries from the bakery down the street.
The morning passed in a blur, busy with the usual Sunday crowd, a steady stream of customers at the counter and nearly all the café tables occupied. Mia found herself checking the clock more often than usual, waiting for Lauren to arrive for her shift at eleven.
“Mia.”
She was jolted out of her thoughts by the unexpected voice, every muscle in her body involuntarily tensing as she focused on the woman standing at the counter in front of her. For a moment, Mia just stared. “Kristin? What are you doing here?”
Kristin had cut her hair since the last time Mia saw her. It was neatly styled in a layered bob. Mia didn’t recognize her charcoal-gray suit either. “As cliché as it sounds, I was in the neighborhood.”
“Oh?” Mia’s brain was misfiring at the sight of her ex-wife here in her café. They hadn’t seen each other since the divorce was finalized in January, and Mia wasn’t sure how to feel about seeing her now. It was unsettling to see Kristin with a new haircut and clothes, visual evidence that Mia didn’t know her anymore. When you spent eighteen years of your life with someone, that felt…strange.
“I met with a client a few blocks over, and I decided to stop in and say hi, see how you are,” Kristin said. There was something hesitant in her demeanor, and that threw Mia as much as her appearance, because Kristin wasneverhesitant. She was as brash and outspoken as anyone Mia had ever met.
“It’s good to see you,” Mia said, surprised to realize she meant it. Despite everything that had happened, she didn’t hate Kristin. Their marriage had grown toxic as the years passed, but they bore equal blame for how it had ended. Maybe now that some time had passed, they could be civil to each other.
“You too,” Kristin said. “You look good. Love the haircut.”
Mia raised a hand absentmindedly to touch her hair, because yes, she’d changed hers since she last saw Kristin too. “Thanks. I was thinking the same about yours.”
“Well, this is awkward, isn’t it?” Kristin said with her trademark hearty laugh. “Look at us, complimenting each other’s hair. What’s next, we start talking about the weather?”
Mia chuckled. “If there’s a guide for this kind of conversation, I didn’t get a copy.”
“Neither did I, but would you be able to take a break and share a cup of coffee with me?”
“I should be able to manage that,” Mia said. “Your usual?”
Kristin nodded and headed toward an empty table near the front of the café. Mia fixed their drinks, made sure Jordy and Mateo were set to cover the counter, and brought both cups with her to Kristin’s table.
“The café seems like it’s doing well,” Kristin commented as Mia sat across from her. “Are you loving it?”
