Page 92 of It Couldn't Be You
“I’d be happy, too. I’m no expert, though, not trying to play it like that.”
“Neither of us thinks you’re an expert, don’t worry,” Katie said pointedly. I kneeled down, scratching Jack London behind the ears.
“Getting some good pets, London?” Gabriel said, pouring himself a glass of lemonade.
“London?” I asked, still crouched down beside the dog.
“We’ve slowly dropped the Jack,” Katie said, clicking around on my laptop. “I think we need to try every place that has fresh fish. I am in desperate need of good fish tacos.”
“How’s the leg?” I asked Gabriel, noticing he was off his crutches today.
“Uh, a little wobbly still, but my physical therapist said I’m good to start putting weight on it. I should watch how long and manage the pain. But honestly, I feel a littlefreewithout the crutches.”
“He’s been giddy,” Katie added.
“I have been giddy. It’s true. Wobbly and giddy,” Gabriel said, walking over to London and me. I glanced up from beside London and smiled at him.
Without thinking at all, I stood up as I said, “I’m so happy to see you back on two feet.” I wrapped him up in a tight hug, all instinct. He hugged me back tightly, and we swayed for a moment, my cheek against his shoulder. It was unintentional but felt so natural. He let his fingers trail down my spine sparking goosebumps everywhere.
“Thanks, Em,” he said against my hair. He somehow smelled like a fresh forest.
I pulled back, surprised at myself, and glanced awkwardly at Katie. She was still on the laptop, immersed in trip planning.
Gabe and I beamed at each other, feeling a little tipsy from the hug as we slowly let go of each other.
Afew days before the trip, Katie and I were weaving through a favorite shop trying on sundresses and floppy hats for our trip. Katie had found a big, chunky gray sweater to wear with linen shorts.
We were sharing a dressing room and wound up sitting on the scratchy store carpet talking. Katie was beside me wearing her own jeans but had on a new top she was trying, price tags still dangling. We had just been laughing about my first attempts at latte art as a new barista, and Katie was telling me I’d “come so far.”
Then she turned to me, suddenly serious, and said, “Can I tell you a secret?”
“Of course,” I said.
“I’ve been working on all these plans and dreams for Coffee & Commas. I’ve literally been writing it all up.”
“Yeah?”
“You know how Rose has been really, like, mentoring me? She’s taken me through so much that I feel like I have such a good grasp of how we could grow the shop.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Have you shown Rose?” I was so proud of Katie I could just burst.
“I haven’t shown Rose yet.” She started messing with the dangling tags, looking down. “I’m kind of nervous to show her. Rose and I have always worked together so well. I couldn’t ask for a better boss and mentor. But lately, she’s felt a little checked out. Or maybe, distracted is a better word for it? I know she still loves the shop and our customers. I just feel like…” her voice trailed off.
“Are you afraid she would be upset?”
“No, not upset…” She rested her head back against the dressing room wall. “Maybe I’m afraid she’ll be annoyed by it or feel like I’m overstepping or being presumptuous.”
“Why else would she be mentoring you if she didn’t value your input and your position at the shop?” I tipped my head to the side, giving her a small smile. “I think you should share them with her.”
“Maybe I will. If I get the right moment.”
I put my hand on Katie’s. “Maybe we just steal Coffee & Commas?”
“We kind of already have.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I like what we’ve done with the place.” I put my head on her shoulder. “Can you believe we’ll be sitting on the beach like this in California soon?”
“At least we know the future week by week, huh?” Katie said. “We might not know where we’re going to be a few months from now and definitely not a year from now. But I’ve got a good idea about next Tuesday.”
