Page 37 of New Growth
His brows furrowed before he examined the drink again and muttered, “Shit.”
Holding up the cup, he sighed. “You’re right. Thisisyours. Mine was almond milk.”
I exhaled, already feeling my rhythm thrown off.
“I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot,” he rushed out.
“It’s fine,” I reassured him, waving him off.
He hesitated, still holding my cup even as the barista placed his drink on the counter. “No, seriously, I should’ve checked before I took a sip. My bad. Maybe you can have mine instead?”
I gave him a pointed look.
“I’m allergic to tree nuts,” I said, nodding toward his almond milk-contaminated coffee.
His handsome face went pale. It was cute that he was so flustered. He made it seem like the world was about to end because I hadn’t gotten my coffee, and I liked that.
“Damn it,” he said quickly. “Let me pay for a new one, for real.”
“I’ll make a new one, Ellie.” Lizzie offered, coming over after hearing the commotion.
“No thanks, I don’t have time to wait.” I grabbed my croissants, waved them off, and turned to leave. “It’s fine. Really. I’m good.”
I had a client in the next thirty minutes, and I hadn’t even prepped the extensions yet. I just hoped the croissant would fuel me enough for the rest of the day now that coffee was no longer an option. But as I approached the door, I heard hurried footsteps behind me.
“Wait,” he called. I stopped, turning to see him holding both cups now.
“Your name’s Elliot, right?” he asked, his gaze scattering all over my body. He didn’t even try to hide his interest.
I nodded, hesitant. “Yup. That’s me. I’m guessing you’re an Elliot, too?”
He grinned like the idea amused him. “Yeah. I’m an Elliot, too. You’re the first woman I’ve ever met with the same name as me.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “No wonder you got the coffee mixed up, huh?”
Elliot glanced down at the cups, shaking his head with a small laugh. “Yeah, well, I should’ve looked before I sipped. My bad.”
I shrugged before trying to leave again. “Like I said. No big deal.”
“Wait, let me make this right. Please?”
I looked back and tilted my head slightly, meeting his gaze. He looked at me like he was studying art, unsure and still interested. I didn’t get why; there was nothing interesting about the messy-haired, unwaxed, and hair-spray-covered woman in front of him. But yet he still looked, and it made me feel…good.
There was something about him—something that made me feel like…I don’t know yet. But I wasn’t ready for whatever this was. Not with everything else going on in my life.
“No, thank you,” I said softly, then walked out of the cafe before he could protest.
Negotiations.
Fivedayslater.
The spot Hope picked for lunch was quieter than Lizzie’s café. It was all the way on the other side of town, in an even more upscale neighborhood than I was used to. Every other week, she called these so-called business meetings to discuss EL’evation’s marketing strategy, but they always ended the same way—with her begging for free services for her friends.
I was used to her antics, but today, I had other issues to address.
I stirred my iced coffee absentmindedly, watching the condensation drip down the side of the cup. Across from me, Hope scrolled through her phone, her manicured nails tapping lightly against the screen.
“Jasmine said she’ll be in Milan for Fashion Week, and she’d love for you to do her hair,” Hope finally looked up at me.
