Page 15 of Beaches, Bagels & Babes
“That was two conversations ago. And you’re damn right I can have off. Without me, you’d be screwed. Which is why I was offering to post online about a job. You need to hire someone to pick up the slack around here.”
“Dotty is—”
“Dotty is a gem of an old, but she sleeps through half her shifts. We need some life around here.”
For emphasis, Rio set down the box they were stocking the display freezer with, and crossed their arms. The move was far from intimidating coming from a person who looked like Frodo Baggins’ cousin, just as short, complete with canvas overalls and a mop of adorable raven, springy curls. The wide, rainbow-rope secured shimmer-frame glasses added a bit of Elton John to the mix, and their array of graphic tees gave a dash of nerd. Today, they wore a print of something calledAvatar: The Legend of Korra.
Rio was unabashedly themself, and always spoke their mind. Usually, Daisy listened. But this wasn’t going to be one of those times.
“Look, I hear you,” Daisy told them. She continued packing, aware that if she got caught up in the dinner-time pop, she would get home late tonight.
If she got home late, she wouldn’t have time to catch up on the dough she needed to make. If she didn’t make the dough, she wouldn't be able to make more bombs. And if she ran out of bombs…
Daisy scrubbed harder at the mystery gunk that had melted onto the display window. She did not look at Rio as she continued talking.
“I know it’s been busy. But busy is good, it means we stay in business. You have a lot going on with your degree and your internship at the Wetlands Institute, so just let me know when you need off. I’ll cover it, no questions.”
“What about you, Zee?”
Daisy flinched. The nickname Rio used, which was actually what everyone called her now, sounded odd after hearing Candace use her given name.
They pressed, “When was the last time you took a real day off? Where you didn’t do bagel prep or bookkeeping?”
A peek at Rio showed that their mouth had drawn into a narrow line, making them look like a disapproving librarian. Daisy looked away again, frowning as well. For an employee and boss, their relationship was too murky.
Rio had started working at the bagel cafe right before the start of their freshman year of college at a nearby university known for environmental studies. The two bonded over their love of local ecology and marine life, plus some general shared taste in books, movies, and games. Daisy did not leave herself much time for hobbies, so most of what she knew about popular culture came from the far more socially in-tune Rio. Oftentimes, they forced Daisy into fun activities. Apart from Norman, they were the only other person Daisy might call a ‘friend.’
But they were in different life stages.
Currently, Rio was enrolled in a master’s program that involved an internship with the local Wetlands Institute’s technology department. They were a whiz with computers and had a passion for nature, so they combined the two. After that was through, though? The world was open to wherever they wanted to take their hard-honed skills, while Daisy was stuck here. She would be lying if she said it did not sting. Still, she was excited for Rio, which was why she would not let her friend-ployee worry about some dead-end summer job.
Putting on an air of bravado, Daisy waved Rio off.
“I had the whole winter to hibernate. I’m all good.”
It was a lie. Even during winter, while the pier and most other places on the boardwalk shuttered for the season, she kept the cafe open. That period was arguably more difficult since she handled the shifts, minus Dotty’s handful, herself.She had to keep the cash flow coming if she was going to make rent. Even if she could find someone willing to take over some bagely burden, she could never afford them. She’d have better luck training Horace the Horseshoe Crab as her newest employee.
But those weren’t concerns she could share with Rio.
“Really. Don’t worry about me.”
Rio might have argued more. Thankfully, a few customers approached the counter and put a pin in the conversation. From there, inventory tally overtook Daisy’s attention.
Everything flavor was popular today,she mentally noted. Followed closely by cinnamon crunch and spinach/feta. The last one was a rotating flavor Daisy only occasionally made, but it sold out within days the last few times she made a batch. If she let people know ahead of time when the flavor was available, maybe it could drum up some much-needed interest.
Daisy tapped her pen against her tally notebook as she racked her brain. They sold a decent number of bombs during the morning shift, but not nearly enough. They needed to do better.Sheneeded to do better, but that would involve business planning and online posting and all sorts of things she wasnotgreat at. With most schools still in session, Wonderwood’s prime season was just a few precious weeks away. Her time to enact any daring, brilliant business strategies was running low.
What could Daisy do to turn things around? Nothing she could think of seemed anywhere near drastic enough. She lost herself in thought, terrified and, deep down under a sticky layer of guilt, thrilled at what failure would mean for her.
Cutting through Daisy’s mental spiraling, a familiar, valley-girl voice reached her ears.
“Is Daisy here?”
“‘Daisy?’” Rio asked with confusion, “You mean Zee? She’s—”
“Here!”
Too fast, Daisy shot up from where she’d been crouched. Once again, her ex-crush was standing before her looking likeshe’d stepped off a runway. Daisy cleared her throat and forced an air of nonchalance.
