I step from the car and slam the door harder than necessary. Nothing says I’m in a mood like denting the quiet morning with your rageful car closure.
“Whoa, someone piss in your cereal?”
I spin to see Ash approaching, balancing boxes like a human forklift. “No,” I grumble. “Let me help.”
He passes me a box with the ease of someone who has literally moved mountains. “What is all this?”
“The flour delivery didn’t come. Didn’t get called in, I guess. Gina is just too run off her feet, taking on too many roles. I did an early morning run to help her out.” I glance at the dark circles under his eyes.
“Dude, you look like you’re auditioning for a zombie movie.”
He snorts. “Yeah, worst time with the finals closing in on us. But with college out and the students gone home, Gina needs help.”
We reach the café door, me balancing a box while trying not to topple over like a clumsy circus act, and I pull it open. The smell of fresh coffee and baked goods hits, warm and comforting. Like home.
“Short-staffed,” some girl mutters, dodging me, still half-asleep as she hurries out the door.
I get out of her way quickly and Ash just shakes his head, muttering something about hoping they get help soon, as we set the boxes down in the back.
Gina, who looks like she’s run off her feet, steps up to him. “Thanks, babe.” He bends and gives her a kiss and my heart tightens as I watch the way they make marriage look so easy. But I guess, like everyone, they had a past they both had to work through, and they put in the work, which is why they are where they are today, happy parents to two kids.
Grant, Ash’s dad, walks into the room. “Got the kids off to school,” he tells us with a big grin that displays how much he loves his grandkids.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without you,” Gina adds, giving his arm a soft squeeze.
“Anything I can do to help with the morning rush?” he asks as Maria steps into the kitchen. Now here’s a story. Grant lives with Maria’s mother, Elena, and Gina had Zoe, her oldest, with Maria’s now ex-husband Lucian when she was nursing and living in California.
Apparently Gina had no idea the guy was already married with two boys. Talk about a wide web. I have no idea how they all got through it and Gina and Maria are now good friends, with Maria working at the café and living in the apartment above with her two teenage boys.
It gives me hope for love and happily ever after.
If they can move past deceit, Jaxon, why can’t you?
“Go sit, Grant,” Gina says. “The morning rush is dying down. Maria will get you your favorite treat.”
He rubs his stomach. “Don’t tell Elena. She’s been watching my cholesterol since my last doc’s visit.”
Gina laughs at that, and Ash shakes his head. His father is in great shape, and I once remember the story they told when he pretended to be sick to get Gina to stay with Ash, because he was playing matchmaker. It worked until they clued in and Gina decided she had no choice but to take his temperature rectally to see if the oral was accurate. Then the gig was up. But it was cute.
“Come on, Grant.” I put my hand on his shoulder and lead him into the room, where Penn is sitting. Gina ushers Ash out, even though he wants to help. We all sit, and Maria brings us coffee.
“Who’s this lovely girl I’m hearing about, Jaxon?” Grant asks as he opens a packet of sugar and dumps it into his black coffee. I quickly glance at Penn, although I don’t know why. He knows what the two of us are up to, and has done it himself.
“Rowyn Perry is a journalist. She works at the Insider.” He frowns. “What, you don’t like her stories?”
“No it’s not her stories I don’t like, it’s the guy…oh, what the heck is his name.”
“Billy,” I provide somehow knowing exactly who he’s talking about.
He shakes his head, angry. “That asshole once tried to do a story on Ash. Came to my door, looking for dirt about his mother. The only thing I gave him was a boot to the ass.” He takes a sip of his coffee. “Don’t trust him.”
“I don’t,” I say. He gives me a tortured look like it’s possible I could get duped anyway. But that won’t happen because I’ve been there, done that, and I’m pretty careful who I let into my life. Rowyn is not after a story. She’s after my body and what I can do with it to help her. Which when I think about it, is all kinds of strange.
“Bring her in sometime, I’d love to get to know her,” Grant says.
I cock my head. Is he looking to protect me?