Witha deep breath, and a feeble burst of determination, I climbed out of the boothand put on my best smile. “Well, I guess that’s the end of that, right?”
Devin’seyes slid up from the table to look at me. “The end of what?”
“This,”I said weakly, still smiling, still trudging through. “I’ll get a job atStarbucks or something. It’s about time I get back to work anyway, right? I’vegottamove on.”
Devinstared off into TheOl’ Tavern, past the bar andbartender, toward the juke box. His dark brows sat over his eyes with furrowedintensity. His lips pinched between his teeth and he sighed. “You really wantthat coffee shop, Kylie.”
“Yeah,I do,” I told him, “but I’ll be okay. I’ll get a job, and I’m not in schoolanymore, so I could work more hours and save more money. It’ll go faster and—”
“Or,you could go into business with me.”
Stupefied,I stared at him and his shaggy hair as I sank back into the booth. “What?”
Hepursed his lips, tipping his head back to look at the dancing flame over thetable. Shadows played over his face, emphasizing the copper-tones in his hairand stubble. “I think we should go into business together,” he said, his voiceeven and sure.
Slowly,my head began to turn. Protesting. “Devin, I can’t ask you to—”
“You’renot asking me anything, Kylie. I’m making you anoffer.” His eyes pinnedme to the spot. “I have the money, and I certainly have the skill to take careof the work that needs to be done. I could be a, uh …silent partner,”he said, using the term I had taught him during my studies.
Itwasn’t any of my business, I knew that, but here he was, offering me money, hisservices and his partnership.SoI asked, “How thehell do you have the money?”
Heshrugged, his thumb flicking at the open mouth of his empty beer bottle.“Remember I told you I have some money saved up for studio time?”
“No.Stop,” I said, shaking my head adamantly. “I’m not taking—”
“Kylie.”My name snapped against my face and I stared, dumbfounded. “Iwantto dothis, okay? I’ve made up my mind.”
“Butyour music!”
“Whatabout it?”
“I-Idon’t know! You’re supposed to go and make a record, you’re supposed to getnoticed and get famous, and—”
Hisgaze was cast onto the table, his lips tightening and releasing multiple timesas his thoughts churned. “Yeah, well, the thing about music and fame is that itall comes down toluck. I could dump all of that money into studio timeonly for nothing to come of it, but you know whathasnothingto do with luck?” I shrugged my response and he pointed a finger at me acrossthe table, playfully poking at my cheek. “Your coffeeshop.”
Flusteredand stunned, I brushed his finger from my face. I fixed to staring at him, toletting it all settle in, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Dev,this is too much,” I said quietly. “I know you’re always trying to help me, butthis… Ireallydon’t know if I can accept this.”
“It’snot charity,” he insisted, his eyes meeting mine. “It’s a business venture, andit helps me also. I’ll be making a little extra money, and besides, I alreadytold you I’d be there every day, remember? It might do something for my musictoo.”
Theshadows deepened the features on his face and I found myself staring,mesmerized by the angular shape of his nose. The defined cut of his jaw. The elongatedtendrils of hair lying against his forehead. I thought about those attractiveguys I had met in college—the cute ones with crappy personalities to balance itall out. Nobody could have it all.
Nobodybut Devin.
Itwas difficult to understand how this guy—thisman—could accidentallymeet me at a party one day, and then continually change the course of my life.How he could singlehandedly attempt to make sure everything went well for me.
Iloved him for it.
Ilovedhim.
“Idon’t deserve you,” I said, my voice hushed against the music filtering throughthe jukebox.
Helaughed, playing all of it off like he wasn’t the most heroic person I’d everknow. “Oh, knock it off. It’s not like I’m doing anything.”
ButGod, how wrong he was. Because, Devin was giving up more than he ever shouldhave for me, to give me the life I always wanted. The life I needed to move onand to thrive.
Hewas giving meeverything.
