“Awesome. Let the mid-morning rush begin.”
I might be ready to work, but Ian’s not having it. “Oh My God. Booker, you can’t do this. You need to leave.”
For a second, I stand stock still. It’s that crazy reaction to someone being disappointed or frustrated, and my body’s primary instinct is to comply because it knows on a soul-deep level that if I don’t, things will just get worse. But I don’t leave. I stay and fight.
“I’m not going anywhere, Ian. I made a commitment to Delilah, and I’m sticking to it.”
He stays silent, then turns toward the back to clock in. Stubborn man.
Placing my arm on his, I stop him. “Ian, go. I’ve got your shift, and I know you’ve got stuff to do.”
He looks at me, conflict painted on his face. So I pull back and shrug. “Fine, then. Work your shift if you want to. But I’m staying. And you know, it might be awkward working with your ex-boyfriend for the next eight hours.”
He says nothing, just turns and leaves. It takes me a minute to catch my breath and get my bearings. I hate that he’s mad at me. I hate that he broke things off between us. But I’m just being a good friend. He always took care of my needs, so it’s only fitting that I take care of his.
“That went well,” I deadpan to Delilah as we return to my drink lesson.
She gives my arm a squeeze. “You’re the best ex-boyfriend I know.”
“Objectively speaking, she’s right,” Theo pipes up from his spot at the register. “Though I wouldn’t trust her opinion on all things relationship. Delilah has terrible taste in men.No offense, D.”
“I do not. And you can’t just say offensive things and make them innocuous by tacking on ‘no offense’.”
“Delilah, the last guy you dated took you to a theme park in Jersey.”
“What’s so bad about that?” I ask. “Sounds like a good date to me.”
“Maybe, except he left her there.”
“Oh. Crap. Ok, that guy sounds like a jerk.”
Delilah smiles wryly. “Yea, I really do suck at picking boyfriends.”
Cammie, the new girl, walks up to the register to get a drink before clocking out. Theo rings her up and a little ticket spits out of the machine in front of me. I turn to Delilah who’s pulling down everything we’ll need to make a caramel crunch latte.
Glancing in my direction, Cammie sighs.“I still think you’re crazy for taking his shift. He freaking dumped you. Why are you helping him?”
Theo pats me on the shoulder in solidarity. “I get it. I absolutely get it. If my ex called me right now and needed something, I’d do it in a heartbeat, no questions asked, no favors owed. You don’t just stop loving someone when it’s over.”
Before we can delve further into our heartache or dating horror stories, the door opens, and a bunch of sorority sisters walk in. The morning passes by in a blur, but the busyness of it all keeps my mind off Ian, so at least there’s that.
Knox comes in with Rose, and since I’m stocking the pastry case, I hand over a cake pop and tell Delilah Knox ordered it. He gives me a glare, but it’s for show. He can’t say no to his chubby-cheeked princess any more than I can. We talk for a few while the shop’s not busy, but Rose gets fussy because it’s nap time and her dad just fed her sugar, so they head out not long after they arrived.
Phoebe and Lucy stop by while I’m on my ten-minute break, and it’s good to catch up with them. We live together, but between finals and all of our crazy schedules, it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to talk.
A few hours later, just before my dinner break starts, Ty and Whit walk in. That’s when I get suspicious. Took me long enough. “Are you guys checking up on me?”
Ty just looks at me. “Have you met us? Of course we are. You’re broken-hearted and miserable, and now you’re working an eight-hour shift for the asshole who dumped you.”
Whit nods, handing over a plastic container. “We bring kale salad, and we come in peace.”
“Thanks,” I sigh. “Come on,” I lead them to a table near the back. “You’re here; you might as well sit.”
Ty gets in line for coffee while I dig into my dinner. “This is awesome. Thanks. Is this the one with the lemon juice dressing?”
“Yeah, with mustard and champagne vinegar. It’s your favorite. I even put in extra chia seeds.”
“That’s love. So when do your culinary classes start?” Whit has realized that his true calling is being a chef and he’s reaching for his dream. I’m proud of him, and excited.
