I roll my eyes and shut the door behind him. Walking around to the driver seat, I look out to the east where I know the Teton Mountains are. It’s five o’clock in the morning and the sun won’t rise for at least another hour on a mid-May morning like today. So instead of seeing the mountains, it’s just darkness.
Still not quite accustomed to the harder tug I have to give the heavy door of the luxury vehicle, I slide into the plush driver’s seat, and plug in my phone to load the GPS on the oversized screen. I’ve convinced myself that if I knew there were cars this nice, I might have considered a different career path. Every time I drive it, I find some new doodad or gizmo that I didn’t see the last time.
Last night, I realized that the cup holders can be heated or chilled. I mean who needs that? Obviously it was nice to keep my iced tea iced for my extra long drive. Snooping around the car and exploring all of its features almost makes me forget that it’s not mine. Even though Sutton got back in town earlier this week with my car, he insisted I keep it since he ‘doesn’t drive that much’. I tried to object, but secretly I’m enjoying it with my nearly two hour commute each way now.
When he first took my car, I was too stunned to do anything about it. Again, who does that? Now though, I really, really don’t want to give back his car. I wonder if Sutton could just swap this seat into my crappy old car. That can be done, right?
The far too polite voice of the GPS slowly wakes me up and seeing the estimated time of arrival on the screen, reminds me that I’ve got another very long day ahead. Even that charming British—or maybe it’s Scottish—voice can’t soften the blow that the road is still very much closed.
Despite the impact to so many people in the surrounding towns, the county still hasn’t said when the road will reopen. The majority of Jackson’s hospitality workers can’t afford to live there, so they have to commute like me, and people are starting to get worried.
With each day that goes by like this, I’m starting to get further behind. Not only am I losing two more hours a day to this drive, the extra gas money is eating into my budget. I just don’t know how long I can keep up with it, I don’t have any time for myself anymore. At least I didn’t have to pay to fix my car, even though I promised myself I would find a way to pay Sutton back. I just don’t know when I’ll ever be able to afford that.
The doorto the coffee shop shuts behind the last customer, jingling the bells. The latching sound of Monica locking it signals the end of our day.
“Oh, thank god,” I say, leaning over the counter. Using my arms as a pillow, I rest my head and let my eyes flutter shut. I hum contentedly, finally getting to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. After starting my morning so early, it was a struggle to keep my eyes open during my shift. If I could, I would go curl up in Sutton's SUV, turn the heated seat on high, and enjoy that massaging seating until I dozed off.
Unfortunately, I think someone has other plans for me. I hear Monica’s footsteps approaching then stop on the other side of the counter.
“No,” I groan into my elbow.
She lets out a curious but knowing hum. “I don’t think your shift is over yet.”
I turn my head to face her, but don’t lift it off my arms. Even positioned like this, I manage to look down my nose and glare at her.
I might be exhausted, but I powered through my day on caffeine and sheer willpower. I’m not going to crack now by showing Monica how tired I am.
I know if I did, she’d insist I live on her couch until the mountain pass reopens. The thing is, I know she’d be happy to do it, and Jason would be just as welcoming. I don’t want to impose on them anymore than I have. I’m afraid if I accept more help from them, they might come to resent me one day or change the dynamic of our friendship.
I begrudgingly lift my head, propping up on my elbows. “What do you need? Also, you know you’re not my boss, right?”
I might joke but technically, it’s true, we both work for Sandy. In the back of my mind, I always feel that tiny bit of a power dynamic in our relationship, and it’s part of the reason I’m reluctant to accept more help. Even if Monica never sees it that way.
She mimics my posture, leaning across the counter from me. Extending one finger, Monica points behind me to the stack of boxes waiting to be delivered. “Can you take care of those?”
I hang my head and groan before looking back at her. “What if I said you’re mean and you should do it?”
She cackles and rasps her knuckles on the countertop. “There’s my girl.” She shoves off the counter and walks past me to the boxes. “The real question is why don’t you want to do it?”
I watch over my shoulder as she grabs the box on top, theone with the delivery slip that simply saysGloria’son it. She sets the box right next to me and taps the top of it with a fingertip.
“Is it because you don’t want to admit that Sutton was nice to you? Just like he always has been? Or are you just tired?” She raises a brow in question, but I don’t say anything. “Or is it because you don’t want to give back his car yet?”
I roll my eyes. “You’re definitely being a bitch now.”
She flicks her long blonde hair over her shoulder and taps me on my head. “Yeah, but that’s why you love me.”
I make a face and stick my tongue out at her as she turns and picks up the rest of the boxes. “I’ll take care of these, but you have to deliver that one.”
I brush my bangs out of my face.
“Fine.” I push myself up off the counter and grab the box.
She gives me that knowing grin, the one we both have mastered after years of friendship and seeing through each other’s bullshit. She’s most definitely enjoying my misery. I glare at her again, which only prompts her to point two fingers down and wiggling them in a walking motion. I know she’s just dying to sayrun along and go talk to him.
So I avoid giving her the satisfaction and turn toward the door with the box tucked under one arm. As I walk away, I extend one finger of my own over my shoulder. Judging by her hoot of a laugh, she definitely saw it which brings a smile to my face.
Walking out of the coffee shop, I’m hit with a cool spring breeze. There’s a hint of that fresh rainfall scent still lingering in the air. Normally, I love the feeling of the cool air right after a heavy rainfall. When the dark, stormy clouds drift in and out of the mountain peaks surrounding Jackson, the views are enough to take your breath away. Monica and I spent countless evenings on the balcony above, sipping wine while watching storms drift in from the west over the jagged peaksof the Tetons. We’d be mesmerized watching lightning crackle in the distance, like something out of a horror movie, trying to picture a villain’s castle nestled in those mountains.