Page 13 of Make Me Trust Again
The sun is up in the sky, and although it’s officially still spring, the heat is making my dress cling to my skin as I take the short walk.
Just as I’m entering the café, my phone chimes. I pull it out, noticing a new email from one of the companies I applied to a couple of weeks ago. I hold my breath as I open it, praying forsome good news, but any hope I had dies as I read over their response.
Not a good fit.
“What’s with the frown?”
Startled, I look up to find Rebecca Williams—well, I guess it’s now Fernandez—watching me from across the counter.
“Just my bad luck,” I mutter as I close the email, hoping I might have missed some kind of response from any other company, but no such luck.
“That interview from the other day didn’t go well, I take it?”
Blinking, I turn my focus to Rebecca. There is no gloating on her face, only sympathy. Not that I deserve it.
Rebecca and I used to be good friends when we were kids. Then her dad died in a car accident, and she retreated into herself. The only people she hung out with were Miguel and Emmett. Looking back, I know it was because they were the ones constantly reaching out to her, something I didn’t bother doing because back then, I was angry and jealous. Angry that my best friend ditched me for these two boys. Jealous of the attention they were giving her.
After that, we drifted apart. I found a new group of friends, and Rebecca stuck with the boys. Our paths would cross occasionally, not strange considering the size of Bluebonnet Creek, and we would butt heads. One thing about Rebecca Williams? She didn’t take shit from anybody, and that especially included me. So imagine my surprise when we moved back to Bluebonnet after John was done with college, and when I ran into her, she was nice to me.
“Oh, the interview went well, I’m just not a good fit.Again.”
I stopped counting the number of rejections I received over the last few weeks, but I suppose it was better to know where I stand than to hope for something that would never happen.
Letting out a sigh, I shoot her an apologetic look. “Sorry, just ignore me. You didn’t sign up for my pity party.”
“No worries, we all deserve a pity party occasionally. It’s just a sucky situation.”
“It is. Which is why I’m here to get the biggest iced caramel latte you have.”
The corner of Rebecca’s mouth tips upward. “One extra-large iced caramel latte coming right up.”
She turns to the counter and grabs a cup; her movements are quick and methodical as she works on my drink, and my gaze darts to the glass display and all the treats. Rebecca has always loved to bake and read, and this place was a perfect retreat for people who enjoyed both. And it has the best coffee in our small town.
We are the same age, and yet, we couldn’t be more different. Rebecca has her life figured out. She is happily married, has a baby, and owns a business. Meanwhile, I am going through a divorce and have no idea what I want to do with my life.
“Are you looking for something specific?” Startled, I look up. She must see my confusion because she explains, “For a job, I mean.”
“Umm… I can’t really be picky. At this point, I’ll take anything that will allow me to work part-time, is close by, and offers a paycheck to go along with it.”
I don’t necessarilyneedthe money, but I don’t want to rely one hundred percent on the trust fund my grandparents left me. Not when I need to put Kyle through school, make sure he keeps up with his doctor’s appointments and speech therapy, feed and clothe him. And figure out our living situation. Let’s not forget about that.
Becky places the lid on the cup and puts it on the counter in front of me. “Do you know how to make coffee?”
I blink, unsure if I heard her correctly. Rebecca quirks her brow in question, and it takes me a moment to realize she’s serious.
“Rebecca.” I shake my head. “You don’t have to do this.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not a pity offer, Rose. I actually need somebody to work at the café part-time. Jessica is finishing her degree and will work fewer hours so she can prepare for her exams. Then she will look for a job as a nurse after that. I love that for her, but that means I’m one barista short, and while I don’t mind picking up the slack, I’d love to use the time I have with Miguel before summer camp comes, followed by a new football season.” She tilts her head, a small smile forming on her lips. “So? What do you say? But let me warn you, if your coffee is shit, you’re getting the boot.”
A strangled laugh escapes me as I just stare at her, still unable to believe this. “I’ll try my best to learn how to make a decent cup of coffee.”
“Good answer.” Rebecca grins.
I start to pull out my wallet, but Rebecca just waves me off. “Employee perks.”
I slowly let go of the bag. “Maybe you should have started with that.”
This makes her chuckle. “I’ll remember it for next time. When can you start?”
