Page 42 of For My Finale
“How hard can it be?” she muttered.
LILAH STOOD BEHIND the counter, staring down the ominous-looking coffee machine. It had so many buttons, levers, and gauges, that it was more like standing at the controls of a spaceship than in a small town cafe. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. Nope. No use. She couldn’t make sense of the thing.
She scratched her nose and looked around. There was a pot of coffee in the drip machine. Alright. That would have to do. She grinned to herself. She could do this.
She managed to get through the first three customers without a hitch. Pouring cups of coffee, smiling, complimenting Mabel on another fine hat, and generally being charming. In fact, she was starting to think that perhaps small town diner waitress was her thing. Maybe she should open a restaurant even.
And then Ives walked through the door.
Lilah was more than aware that Ives disapproved of her. So as the woman strolled up to the counter, arms crossed, surveying Lilah with a mixture of amusement and skepticism, Lilah’s skin prickled.
“You’re working?” Ives said finally, tone heavy with disbelief.
Lilah straightened up, poured a cup of coffee, slid it across the counter and shrugged. “You say that like I don’t know how to function as a human being.”
“I just find it hard to believe that you’d voluntarily be behind a counter serving coffee,” Ives said acidly.
Lilah sighed. “Look, obviously, you think that I’m just a spoiled actress, and honestly, that’s pretty fine with me.”
Ives raised an eyebrow. “Um, why?”
“Because I am a spoiled actress,” Lilah said. “Or at least I was. I had everything handed to me, I got whatever I wanted, the whole nine yards. However, I’m here now, and I’m trying to change all that. I quit and I’m trying to find something else that means something to me. If you can’t see beyond your first impression of me, then that’s a you problem, not a me problem.”
For a long moment, Ives just looked at her. Then she barked a laugh. “Alright, fair enough.” She took her coffee, pulled out a stool, and sat down. But before she took a sip, she leveled Lilah with a serious look. “So, what are your intentions with Blossom?”
Lilah blinked. “Intentions?”
Ives rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me hate you again. Blossom clearly likes you. Anyone with half a brain can see that. So, I’ll ask again. What are your intentions?”
“Um, I don’t have any intentions.” Lilah felt her stomach flip over and she wasn’t sure why.
Ives looked unimpressed. “You sure about that?”
“Yes,” said Lilah, far more firmly than she really felt.
Ives sighed. “Listen, it’s obvious Blossom likes you. And frankly, you don’t seem terribly indifferent to her either.”
With something uncomfortable twisting in her chest, Lilah said, “I’m not interested in an overgrown teenage crush.”
“And if that’s not what this is?” Ives challenged.
Lilah didn’t have an answer to that. Because the truth was that she didn’t know what this was, because she wasn’t letting herself think about it. Blossom was… special. She was warm and kind and full of life in a way that Lilah had never been. Yes, seeing Blossom made her feel all tingly. But that didn’t mean anything. Did it?
Ives took a long sip of coffee, watching Lilah over the rim of her cup. Then she set it down and leaned forward, her expression turning sharp. “Listen, I don’t care how famous you are. I don’t care if you’re a Hollywood legend or whatever. What I do care about is Blossom. She’s my best friend. She’s kind and gentle and sweet. And if you think that you’re going to waltz in,charm her, sweep her off her feet and then leave when you get bored, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Lilah said.
“Maybe not on purpose,” said Ives. “But your intentions don’t really matter in the end. Your actions do. And if you leave this town and leave Blossom broken hearted, I will personally track you down and make your life hell.”
Lilah let out a small, dry laugh. “Good to know.”
Ives leaned back, satisfied. “Glad we understand each other.” She took another sip of coffee. “By the way, this coffee is terrible.”
“You’re welcome,” said Lilah.
But as Ives turned her attention to her phone, Lilah found herself staring at the cafe door, her mind turning over Ives’s words. Was she really being so blind about what was happening between her and Blossom? And if she was, did she actually want to do anything about it? Could she afford to do anything about it?
She didn’t have answers. But her heart pounded at the thought of finding out.
