Page 81 of She’ll Steal Your Heart
“Okay,” Lauren agreed.
Mia headed out, and Lauren spent the rest of the evening moving between the cat enclosure and the counter, jumping in where she was needed. She was mellow and happy after her amazing night with Mia, feeling like she could take on the world. And she loved every moment she spent in the café, even when Mia wasn’t here.
Lauren would see her later, and maybe for the first time ever, she felt confident thatlatermeant more than just seeing Mia tonight. It meant lots of nights, a future full of them. Without the threat of a prison sentence hanging over her, Lauren could finally look ahead, and she liked what she saw…a lot.
At seven, she flipped the sign on the door to Closed and started cleaning up in the cat enclosure while Jordy wiped down the café counters. Lauren had just put down the cats’ nighttime meal when Jordy waved from the other side of the glass.
“I’m heading out. Night!”
“Night,” Lauren called after them. She smiled to herself as she watched the foster cats gather around the plates of food. She was all alone in the café for the first time. It felt peaceful, just her and the cats. Lauren took her time feeding and playing with them, and then she finished cleaning their enclosure.
“See you guys tomorrow,” she told them as she closed the glass door behind her. She went to the bathroom to wash her hands and then walked behind the café counter. Her next task was the cash register. She needed to balance its contents against today’s sales and then lock the cash in the safe in Mia’s office. Lauren walked to the register and punched in the code to unlock the drawer.
It slid open with a ding, revealing an empty cash compartment. For a moment, Lauren just stared, because there was no way… Every dollar, every penny,everythingwas gone.
“No,” she whispered. The tremor started in her knees, racing up her body until she had to grip the counter to keep herself upright. Her stomach clenched painfully, and her head spun.
Oh God.How had this happened? Had someone at the café found out about Lauren’s past and taken the cash to try to frame her? Had the café been robbed while she was in back, washing her hands? She hadn’t double-checked that the front door was locked before she went to the bathroom, had she? No, she hadn’t. Ohfuck. She’d just gotten the felony charge against her dropped. No one would believe she hadn’t taken the money herself.
She’d lose her job. She’d lose her apartment. She’d loseMia.
Lauren’s knees gave out, and she slumped to the floor. Ice swept through her veins, and she could hear herself gasping for breath. Mia’s words the day she’d hired Lauren echoed in her head. She’d told her that if Lauren ever betrayed her trust, she wouldn’t be as forgiving as Josie.
What should Lauren do now? Whatcouldshe do? She was right back where she’d started when she returned to Brooklyn a few months ago, but it was worse this time, because she had so much more to lose.
Mia…
With numb fingers, Lauren picked up her phone and dialed.
“Hi,” Mia answered. “Got a question about closing?”
“No,” Lauren managed. “But…you need to come downstairs.”
23
Mia entered the café to find Lauren on the floor behind the counter, arms wrapped around her knees, rocking herself like a frightened child. Her eyes were wide and unfocused. Mia’s pulse spiked. “Lauren? What happened?”
“The cash is gone,” Lauren whispered. “It’s empty…someone took it.”
“What?” Mia looked at the register. The cash drawer was open. She peered inside. It was empty, like Lauren had said. Mia’s stomach sank. Oh shit. She’d left Lauren to close, and now all her cash was missing? Surely Lauren hadn’t taken it, but then where was it?
“I’m going to jail after all.” Lauren’s words sounded like a moan.
Mia lowered herself to sit beside her. “Tell me what happened. Where is the cash?”
“Gone. It’s all gone.”
Mia rested a hand on her shoulder, feeling Lauren tremble beneath her touch. “I don’t understand. Can you start at the beginning?”
“You said…you said if I ever betrayed you…you wouldn’t be as forgiving as Josie.” Lauren’s voice was high-pitched, bordering on hysterical.
“Have you betrayed me?” Mia asked as something heavy settled in her stomach. Why wouldn’t Lauren just tell her what happened?
“I lost it,” Lauren said, and even her lips were shaking now. “I lost all the cash.”
When Mia gripped her hand, Lauren’s fingers were ice cold. Was she in shock? Had something happened to her? “Lauren, did someone rob the café? Are you hurt? Please talk to me.”
“I don’tknowwhat happened,” Lauren practically shouted, making Mia jump. “The cash is just…gone. Everyone will think I took it, because that’s what I did last time. I’m a thief.”
