Page 80 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
“Tomorrow.” This time it was Saphira who stole one last kiss before going, looking over her shoulder for one final glance. Aiden was still leaning against his car, holding a hand to his heart. She giggled.
Practically floating, Saphira went inside the cafe, where Lavinia was watching her from behind the counter, mouth wide open. Saphira realized that Lavinia had probably seen her and Aiden kissing through the window.
Before Lavinia could adequately freak out, Saphira held up a hand. “First, tell me how everything’s been,” she ordered. “Was everything okay while I was gone? No problems?”
“Oh my god, everything’s been fine, literally nothing to worry about,” Lavinia said. “Business as usual, and no problems at all.”
“Okay, good, good,” Saphira said, glad that the cafe had fared well during her absence.
“Now, I need details!” Lavinia cried, eyes wide. Saphira hid her face with her hands. “Wait for me in the back while I tell Cal to cover the front!”
Saphira went to the back and, a few moments later, Lavinia rushed after her with two iced lattes in her hands.
“Details, now!” Lavinia ordered. Saphira took one of the drinks, and they went to the garden door, from where they exited to sit outside on the grass. There, Saphira relayed everything that had transpired in the thirty-six hours since Saphira had seen Lavinia yesterday morning, which now felt like an eternity ago.
“We have the vet in the morning, so it’s probably best to get some rest tonight,” Saphira finished. Talking about all of it made it so real, which was a bit overwhelming to grapple with. “I also need to just process all of this.”
“What is there to process?” Lavinia asked. “He’s hot! He likes you! I don’t see the problem.”
“Well! Technically I work for him? I’m pretty sure this is an HR violation.”
“Psh.” Lavinia waved a hand. “Who cares about that? Besides, you’re not going to be training Sparky forever. Don’t overthink it.”
“True.” Though that was much easier said than done.
Lavinia squealed, and Saphira grinned, feeling giddy.
“I can’t believe that all actually happened,” Saphira said at the end, shocked. “Like, that wasn’t a fever dream?”
“He was wearing your lipstick in the middle of Main Street, so no, it was not a fever dream!” Lavinia cried. Saphira threw her head back and laughed. She couldn’t stop, she was positively giddy. Lavinia giggled.
“Oh Saph,” she said, awed. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“I’ve never felt like this,” Saphira said, and the words sunk in. “God, my tummy hurts.”
“You are fine!” Lavinia said. “Breathe! You just need some oxygen.”
Saphira took deep breaths, fanning herself. “Okay.” She blew out her cheeks. “Enough about me—tell me how your internship has been going?”
“I’ve been learning so much,” Lavinia told her. “I’ll be there tomorrow when you guys come in with Sparky-Poo.”
“Oh, good! He’ll have a friendly face,” Saphira said, relieved. “I know we’re putting the little guy through a lot all at once.”
“No, it’s good,” Lavinia said. “He’s growing up, so he needs his vaccinations now.”
“Don’t say that he’s growing up! I’m going to cry!”
“Whenaren’tyou crying?” Lavinia asked.
Saphira was about to protest but conceded. “Fair point.”
They were interrupted when Calahan stuck his head out of the side door, a clearly apologetic expression on his kind face.
“Um … Lavinia?” he asked nervously. “If someone had—theoretically—attempted to foam milk with too much milk in the frothing pitcher, and said milk splattered everywhere, how would that someone go about cleaning that?”
Lavinia gave him a dry look. “Is this someone you?”
“Maybe.”
