Page 44 of Until Then

Her eyes go round like saucers. “Really? It was that easy?”

“Don’t make me change my mind,” I growl, heading for the door. “I’ll meet you at the truck. I’m going for coffee.”

When I return five minutes later, she’s in the truck with Wonton sitting on the center console, his tongue hanging out.

I hop in, passing her a matcha.

“Thank you.” She accepts the cup and takes a generous sip. “Perfection, as always. I can’t believe I didn’t know your storefront was here. Every time I’ve visited, I’ve spent at least a few hours working at that coffee shop.”

I put the truck in reverse and lift a shoulder. “It’s not like I have a big sign out front.”

“Yeah.” She eyes the front of the building as I pull away. “About that… I think you should add one.”

I don’t need to even think before I respond. “No.”

An exaggerated puff of air escapes her. “Why not?”

“I get plenty of business without it. Word of mouth is all I need.”

“You’re so…” She struggles to find words as she sets her cup in the holder between us.

“Old?” I suggest, my chest pinching in frustration.

Frowning, she picks at the frayed edge of her shorts.

I jerk my gaze away, focusing back on the road, and take a cleansing breath in.

“I was going to say set in your ways, but if that’s how you want to frame it, then I guess… yeah.”

I have no response. Either way, I suppose she’s right. We’re silent for the rest of the drive, the atmosphere awkward thanks to me.

I pull up outside what used to be a bank a few towns over. My team has been refurbishing the place with the goal of turning it into a party venue.

Handing Izzy a spare hard hat from the back seat, I say, “Wonton can’t go in. I’ll leave the truck running.”

She nods, then presses a kiss to the top of her dog’s head. I’ve never met another person who loves their dog the way Izzy loves hers.

Massive stone columns flank the double set of doors of the main entrance. They’re heavy and old, but intricately carved. Originally, our customer requested we remove them, but I convinced him to let them stay, encouraging him to preserve some of the history here. I can’t help but smile every time I see them. While much of what I do requires me to update olderstructures, I love to maintain original work if it’s sound and can be worked into the design.

Izzy follows me inside, head swiveling, taking it all in. All that’s left here are a few finishing touches, but sometimes those small details take the longest.

“This place is gorgeous,” she says, her voice echoing off the blank walls and tall ceiling. “Wow.” She spins in front of me. “This is spectacular, Derrick. Truly.”

Her praise shouldn’t mean any more to me than the average person’s, but fuck if it doesn’t meaneverything.

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

Above, on a set of scaffolding, Larry says, “Hey, boss. How’s it going?”

Izzy’s eyes shine. “Boss man,” she mouths.

“Good,” I call back. “Looks like you guys will be wrapping up soon.”

“That’s the hope. Haven’t seen you around much lately.”

With a sigh, I shove my hands into the pockets of my shorts. “Been busy.”

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