Page 57 of Blame It On the Lattes

Thirty

Sam

“Iswear, I’ve neverseen you so bah humbug before in all the years I’ve worked with you, and definitely never on Christmas Eve,” Piper noted as we got everything ready to open for the day.

“I’m fine,” I lied, trying to shake off my bad mood so I didn’t ruin anyone else’s.

I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how well Avery’s interview had gone and how she’d been offered a teaching job in Houston. She was so excited about it, and I wanted to be happy for her, but how could I be when it meant she would be leaving? We spent the past few days doing stuff with Kennedy to get her excited about Christmas, which was also an excellent way for us to avoid dealing with the elephant in the room.

I knew that Avery didn’t owe me anything and that we both went into whatever this was between us, knowing that it would be short-lived because she was never planning to stay. But deep down in my heart, I had hoped that confessing our love for one another would be enough to change her mind. I knew as a mother that she wanted to offer her daughter the best the world could give her, but I hated that. I felt like she was easily overlooking the fact that she could do that in Sugarplum Falls.

“You’re the worst liar,” Piper continued, restocking the disposable cups. Today would be a busy morning, with everyone stopping in to get their caffeine fix before the final countdown to make the magic happen.

“I’m not lying. I’m fine.”

“Do I need to call Cassidy and ask her what’s going on?”

“Not like she doesn’t know. Averyisher best friend,” I muttered.

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily when I realized I’d just spilled the beans.

“I knew it was Avery-related, but I haven’t been able to figure out what.”

“She got offered a teaching job in Houston, and I think she’s going to take it. They want her to start right away, after New Year’s. She told them she needed a few days and would let them know on the 26th.”

“Oh. Shit.” Piper’s face fell along with her shoulders as she stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “I’m sorry, Sam. I know how much you like her.”

“Not like. Love.”

Piper’s eyes widened as her hands went to her mouth.

“You’re in love?”

I nodded and looked away, not wanting to feel so vulnerable right now.

“Sam, that’s wonderful!”

“I think you’re missing the whole point here, Piper,” I teased sarcastically. “It doesn’t matter if I’m in love if the person I’m in love with wants to move to another state.”

“Love isn’t meant to be easy, Sam. You know that.”

“Actually, I don’t. I’ve never been in love until now. I thought I was before, but nothing has ever felt like this. None of the women I’ve dated have ever compared to Avery. While those relationships were good and I had a decent heartbreak after they ended, it will be nothing like what I will feel when Avery leaves me. It’s not something I’ll ever come back from.”

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