Page 113 of Off the Wall

I follow her gaze, and she’s right. Faint puffs of condensation waft off the surface. “I didn’t know they heat the pool that high.”

“They don’t.” A crease forms in her brow. “That’s so strange.”

I bite back a smirk. “It’s not the strangest thing that’s happened around this place in the past month.”

“True.”

Our eyes lock once more, and I’m about to start kissing Nori all over again when the phone rings from her bag.

“East and Becca probably saw the videos and now they want a complete dissection of everything that’s happened since I left their place. Or it could be Hayden. How many hours earlier is Maui from Mass?—”

“Go ahead,” I tell her. “I’ve got nothing but time for you.”

She offers me a tiny, adorable cringe. “I’ll make it quick.” She slides off my lap and digs inside her purse for her phone. When she checks the screen, a sigh slips out of her. “It’s Violet. She was telling everyone about the shop tonight.”

My pulse picks up.

“Hey, Violet,” Nori says, taking the call. “How did things go?” A note of sympathy threads through her voice. She’s quiet for a stretch, then her eyes widen. “You’re kidding!” Her mouth is an oval of shock. “What are you going to do?”

Another beat of silence.

“Are you serious?” she yelps. “Yes. Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” She’s bouncing beside me now, giddy and grinning. “The loan application is still good until—what’s the date?—tomorrow, actually. I’ll go to the bank first thing in the morning. If you can just open the shop for me, I’ll—you can?” Agrin breaks across her face. If I could, I’d spend the rest of my life watching Nori be this happy.

“Okay, thank you so much,” she gushes. “Yes. I’ll see you then.”

She ends the call and shrieks. “You’ll never believe what happened!”

“I can’t wait to hear,” I say.

Chapter Forty-Five

Nori

“Glen Cottageand his son backed out of buying Serendipi-Tea,” I squeal. My heart’s pounding like a jackhammer, and the poor little organ was already getting a world-class workout from kissing Cash. “They found another place they want more. Glen told Violet and Larry this morning.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I am NOT KIDDING!” In fact, I’m so excited, I can barely catch my breath. “Violet didn’t say anything to me earlier because she figured I’d slip right back into wanting to buy the shop, and she was afraid that would still be too much pressure on me. But then Yvette showed her my Swipe Rite video tonight, and Violet started to have second thoughts. So she talked to Larry, and … she just asked me if I still want to buy the business.”

“Well.” Cash blinks. “Do you?”

“Of course I do!” I squawk. “Owning Serendipi-Tea is a dream come true. It’s everything I ever wanted.” Well. “Until about a month ago.”

“You did it.”

“I did.” Tears well in my eyes, and Cash reaches out to tenderly brush my cheek.

“I’m so proud of you.”

“I’m proud ofmyself.”

“And honestly, I think the Victorian next to Violet’s place will make a great real estate office.”

“I totally agree. And Glen’s son is going to focus only on selling houses not coffee. Which would’ve been a lot for one business to—wait.” I pause for a moment as something skitters around my brain. “How did you know they’re buying the house next door?”

“Uh, I … well.” He clears his throat. “Lucky guess?”

“Cash Briggs.” I fold my arms across my chest. “What did you do?”

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