Page 77 of Fast Currents
“Hey, Zach.”
“Hey, Luce. What will you have today?” He smiled at Trish after greeting me.
“A decaf coffee for me,” Trish answered.
“A flat white for me, please.”
Trish pulled out her wallet.
“I’ve got this.” I tapped my card against the payment terminal.
Zach’s lip twitched. He seemed amused by the small tug-of-war between me and Trish.
“We’ll see you at Vi’s Friday?” he asked.
“For sure. Happy Thanksgiving, Zach.”
He dipped his chin, acknowledging my goodbye before turning to the couple behind us.
Trish chose a set of deep blue chairs near the window. I picked at the hem of my shirt, tugging at a stray thread.
“Coffee for Lucifer!”
I’d kill Zach later.
I forced a smile for Trish. “I’ll pick up our drinks. Back in a sec. Do you take it black?”
“I do.”
I glowered at Zach as I approached the counter. He grinned back, unrepentant as he passed over our drinks.
Trish accepted her mug with a small smile. Her curls drifted against her cheek, and she pushed them back, making her seem somehow softer than before.
“Seems like they really know you here.”
Was that censure or acceptance?
“It’s a small community.”
“Mm.” Trish sipped her coffee, watching me over the rim. “I wasn’t sure about Clay moving here at first. Seemed too remote. I worried he’d be lonely.”
“Clay’s got the kind of charm that makes it hard to picture him lonely anywhere.”
Her brow wrinkled. “After Jen passed, it was like that part of him died with her, rest her soul.”
“Mm.” I had no idea what to say. It wasn’t my place to comment on Jen.
“She was very… restful for him.” Trish paused for another sip from her mug, holding my gaze. “I like that you challenge him.”
Was that…her blessing?
“You do?”
She nodded. “My son has always been the caretaking type. But with you, I see him taking a different role. It’s good for him.”
While I’d hoped to achieve some kind of acceptance, spending the day with Trish, I hadn’t expected her seal of approval.
“You’ll keep him on his toes.”
